130
The Scam Observer Monday December 4th 1922
Red Cross,
(Continued from page 5.)
be considered. The territory Over which the Netherlands Indies GovernL- ment had control was very large, and if the sale of opiam w prohibited it would be extremely dimoult to prevent muggling. Thus, while the Govero- ment would lose the revenue from the opium, it would still be illegally dis-i telbuted throughout the possessions. The question was a very difficult one to deal with, and it would require to be very carefully considered,
Dr. Ayer remarked that the attitude of the Siamese Department of Public Health on the question under discussion could not be otherwise than sympathe tio. He wished only to say a few; words on a single an ect on the matter.j As they perhaps know, the new drafte law for harmful forming druge placed ad large share of the responsibility for the¶ pontrol of such drugs upon the Depart-] ment. He was not, most of them per-p haps were not, in a position to gauged with accuracy how much infgenos); educational measures might exert upon i the potential or actual users of the drags. Bat in one direction be thought; that a very definite and valuable result ↑ might be anticipated in bringing about an increased publio opinion in favour ofț the effective enforcement of the various provisions of this law. The difficulty of effectively enforcing such lawa wai generally recognised, and he believed the Department would very gladlyĮ welcome the aid of educational prow paganda, not only for its influence spong individual users, but because of what) seemed to him to be the invaluable sidi It would give the Department when it became one of its duties to enforce the jaw.
Dr. Peter then explained one or two- directions in which educational pro- paganda might be carried out, after which the Chairman commed up the dircussion, particularly welcoming thei reference of Mr. McElderry to the pro bable substitution of alcobol for opiata.. If the sale of the latter were abolishech. The conference then adjourned thi Monday morning, the question being referred back to the Oplum Sab Com- mittee.