}
425
As to the price of prepared opium, it was fond
(again with the exception of Formosa) that the raising
thereof had reduced consumption, so long as the illicit
trade was not stimulated by too great an increase of price.
The Committee found that all administrations had
endeavoured to prevent the use of opium by minors with
a view to ensuring that the next generation shall be az fer
as possible free from the vice. Among the measures taler
were mentioned: propagenda in the schools, prohibition of
adulasion of minors into smoking divans, and prohibition of
sale to or possession by minors.
III.
The smuggling question was exhaustively examined by
the Committee. It was found that a suppression of
snuggling was impossible ao lung as enormous quantities
of raw opium were produced in other territories in which the
lack of control allows the unhindered outflow of the contra-
band opium into most of the Far Eastern territories,
In the circumstances the Committee had to limit itself
to the consideration of measures for checking the illicit
trafe as far as possible. Mutual co-operation and direct
exchange of information regarding the illioit traffio,
seizures eto., between the heads of the opium services in
the different territories have been found to be of greet
value, and the Committee suggested that a recommendatian
might be made to the Governments concerned to instruct the
heads of their respective services to co-operate in this
manner,
and when it seems likely to be useful to arrange
for personal meetings.