Appendix E.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS FOR THE YEAR 1933.
I.-LIQUOR.
The net revenue collected showed a decrease on 1932 of $202,153. The consumption of beer, including local beer, showed an increase which is partly due to the inclusion in the figures of heavy stocks held at the end of the year on which duty had been paid under the system outlined in paragraph 4 below. The consumption of spirits showed a decrease due doubtless to the general shortage of money in circulation. The output of native spirit by local distilleries showed a decrease of 92,000 gallons, which is fully accounted for by the general decrease in employment especially in the latter half of the year.
2. Seizures of Chinese spirit showed little difference in the aggregate, but there were fewer large seizures.
The majority was seized on board river steamers, members of the crews of which were frequently implicated. After a ship has been thoroughly rummaged on arrival, arrests have been made frequently of coolies carrying ashore a bottle or two long after her arrival. In one case a ship arrived at night alongside her wharf, and on the off-side a rope was noticed attached to a fitting on deck and apparently trailing in the sea overside, but on being untied and hauled in a large number of bottles of Chinese spirit were discovered attached to it and submerged in the water along the side of the ship. Hollow bamboo poles were frequently seized filled with spirits, which had been bought at a cheap price on board river steamers. Special steps were taken to arrest and put before the courts all carriers of Chinese spirit, when they had obtained it on board after the ship had berthed some time. These cases may have appeared trivial, but it must be realised that a number of street coolies and juveniles are employed throughout the day carrying contraband spirits ashore just in such small quantities as can be easily concealed on the person. One old woman was known to employ no fewer than ten small girls to carry spirits and Chinese tobacco ashore. None of these children will ever admit who employs them. In one case a large number of bottles of Chinese spirit was found on a staircase, at the foot of which a typical street seamstress was innocently plying her trade, but really receiving the spirit from the children as they brought it ashore.