534
9
The calling into oxist.ncs of rstriction
rus with n licuncu-syotum was found d on th. idun that it would bo narly ipossible to compel a relatively 1 rgo nuab r of opium- smokors sucunly to stop using opium ntirely. It was therefore considered butter to purmit those who wuru alrasdy nccustomed to th: rug, to continu.. to use it, but to prevent the enslaving of Sothors to the drug. The quantities allowed to each of the smokers
were fixod according to those which they regularly used and also
their incomes, The incrunso of quantities already fixed, is only permitted in exceptional caso, After a certain period, usually 6 months after the licunco-system has cono into oporation, no now permits aru issued, In very exceptional circumstances, when this Would give rise to nedlass sovority, can the Government pormit further now licences to bo 13suod,
When the regulations era properly maintained, therefore, a district in which a licence-system as discussed above. is in operation, ma in due course become opium-free.
In order to detect the breach of the restric- tive laws more easily, exclusively opium, the packing of which has e distinctive mark, is sold in a number of restriction-areas with licence-systems, and the possession of other opium is prohibited.
X.
Since 1914 powerful measures were taken besides
in order to achieve the eradication of the use of opium as far as possible in the first place there, where the Government, as employer, is in its own bounds, In consequence thereof, the following measures were brought into force,
Comencing on April 1st 1916, a licence- ystem was introduced in the residency Banka and attached territories for all users of opium. According to the conditions thereof, it was at first still possible that new licences be issued to contract labourers working in the Banka tin-mines, who had been contracted outside the residency. This however is no longer cone since lat. Baotember 1917, so that the number of licences automatically dimi- pishes, and even if no further steps were taken, the use of opium in Benkte will in the not distant future be a thing of the past.
With the official in charge of the construc- tion of the South Sumatra Railway an agreement was made that, after period of transition, no opium-smokers would be tolerated amongst the labourers, so that already for a considerable period there are
labourers engaged on the construction, who legally use opium.