PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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But
General of Births and Deaths for 1891, does not mention this as one of the causes. as to that, I observe that the causes that he enumerates are such as were probably in operation in 1881, and do not, therefore, account for the increase in the Chinese death rate. The cause may possibly be that deaths are more accurately registered now than they were in 1881. It occurred to me that possibly the disproportion of the sexes, for which the Chinese population here is remarkable, might be one of the causes of their bigh death rate, but an examination of the figures of the census and of death registration does not show this to be the case. The cause has yet to be shown.
These
12. According to our Prison Reports, all opium-smoking prisoners, with scarcely an exception, gain in weight while they are in gaol. This, however, may be the case with other prisoners, and may be the consequences of improved diet or other causes. opium-smoking prisoners may belong to a class who, when out of gaol, deny themselves proper food in order to obtain opium.
13. On the other hand, individuals suffering from the use of opium are very rarely seen here. The Chinese that we see are not an enfeebled race, they are the industrial backbone of the Colony. Abroad, their labour has recently proved too formidable for the United States or Australia to contend against. Yet, according to Deputy Surgeon- General Moore, in his book on "The Other Side of the Opium Question," "intelligent "Natives now estimate the proportion of opium consumers (in China) at 31 per cent. "of the population." And, according to our Prison Report for 1883, one-fifth of the Chinese admitted to the gaol were accustomed to the use of the drug. And Dr. Moore states that "in India, whole races, as the Sikhs for instance, consume opium in some "form, and we know that they are not ruined physically or mentally, but, on the
contrary, are among the hardiest and most industrious of the people."
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14. The opinion of Sir Alexander Mackenzie is that "there are in Burma Chinese "and others who are accustomed to a moderate use of opium, and who consume it "without ill effects, or even with beneficial results." Similar opinions are quoted by Dr. Moore in the book above mentioned, and his conclusions are that opium taken in excess is not more injurious than alcohol taken in excess; that opium taken in moderation is not injurious; that opium is especially suited to the Chinese constitution, habits, and to the small pecuniary means of the masses; and that the Chinese people will have opium. It is also stated that opium is valuable in damp and malarious climates. If that be so, it is valuable in the Straits Settlements. It seems to me probable that the practical experience of millions of Chinese since the sixteenth century has taught them lessons in the moderate and proper use of this drug which are not yet fully understood by European observers.
15. For the present, therefore, for want of authority, I hesitate to attribute the increased Chinese death rate to the increased consumption of opium, or the gain in weight of opium-smoking prisoners to abstention from opium. I await some other explanation of those facts. If none is given, it may be gathered that the health of the community does suffer from the consumption of opium. In such a case, I should be in favour of some restriction upon its sale, even though it should not be possible to make up for the consequent loss of revenue by fresh taxation. There is no need, however, for such restriction to take the form of the licensing system, or of limiting the number of shops or the quantity which may be sold in them. "sold has much more influence on the consumption than the number of shops at which "The price at which opium is opium can be bought "as the Indian Government states. opium is sold could be, and is to some extent now, regulated by this Government at And the price at which each letting of the farm.
16. At present, in my opinion, there is not sufficient evidence that the consumption of opiurn by the community is excessive, and I am, therefore, not in favour of the adoption of the suggested limitations and restrictions in the sale of opium.
17. A discussion of this subject in Council might have removed some of the errors of individual opinions. I trust that an opportunity may be given of ao removing mine, and of the Council as a whole arriving at a decision more valuable than that to be gathered from the separate and independent opinions of its members.
J. A. HARWOOD,
August 24th, 1892.
Acting Attorney-General,
Straits Settlements.
SIB,
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Enclosure 7 in No. 27.
From the COLONIAL TREASURER to the COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Treasury, Singapore, October 6, 1892. In accordance with his Excellency's directions on paper, S. of S. 5,276/92 and enclosures, I have the honour to forward my written opinion thereon.
2. The points to be considered are :-
I. The evils consequent on excessive consumption of opium.
II. The question of substituting a licensing system instead of the present farins. III. The restriction of present licensed shops or their total abolition.
IV. Limiting the quantity of prepared opium which may be sold, or be in the
possession of one person.
V. The number of shops.
VI. The licensing power of such shops to be in the hands of Government.
3. With regard to the evils consequent on excessive consumption of opium; it is
not common in the Straits Settlements to meet with bad cases, or signs of misery from
its use, although opium smokers may be reckoned by thousands.
4. The bulk of smokers are Chinese, there are some Japanese, and a few Malays. Indians will not, I believe, use opium in the form prepared by the opium farmers, but purchase it in its raw state and prepare it themselves.
5. My experience in the Straits Settlements and in the Native States extends over 24 years. I have observed the use of opium during that period in every portion of the Colony, and I can say that opium, as it is generally used, is not injurious to the Chinese. With regard to Malays I think it is more so.
Instances of excessive consumption have seldom come under my notice. One learns how habitual its use is by finding, for instance, that in plantations and mining districts coolies are supplied with opium as a necessary of life, and that when they are restrained from using it, as in the case of prisoners, they frequently suffer severely. But the people who thus ordinarily smoke opium show no signs of ill-health. On the contrary, they are strong and vigorous, our mainstay in the labour market, and are capable of bearing more fatigue and out-door work than any other race in the Colony. It will be obvious that if the use of opium is as injurious as it is sought to prove, that the employers of labour would not permit its use in the way they do. It is supplied to the coolie by the employer at very small profit.
6. I have endeavoured more than once to obtain some statistics as to the amount of opium actually consumed in the Colony, but no definite figures could be given. This aimount, however, bears but a very small proportion to the quantity imported, as much is transhipped to other places. There is a considerable export trade in prepared opium from the Straits to America and Australia. As to opium consumed in the Colony, profits are made, not from any extraordinary consumption, but by the enormous difference in price between that of the raw opium and that of the cooked and diluted "chandu," of which the farmer has the monopoly of preparation.
7. With regard to the question of giving up our farming system and substituting one of licenses to be issued by Government, I am decidedly averse to it. The system of Issuing licenses in lieu of a farm has been tried with regard to pawnbrokers, and the result is an unqualified failure.
8. The farming system, I believe, tends more to restrict the use of opium than the issue of licenses would, as under the latter smuggling would be easier, and, given cheap opium, the consumption would be greater.
9. The Chinese possess a strong internal system of organisation, and are far more capable of undertaking management and control in this matter than we are. Habit or vice as it may be called, it is one which solely concerns themselves. Under the farming system, it is the interest of the opium farmer to keep up prices and to check smuggling and the illicit preparation of chandu. He has special knowledge and the co-operation of his own people; nevertheless he finds it difficult and expensive enough to guard against depredation.
10. If we attempted a licensing system, instead of having, as we now have, the interests of a large section of the Chinese bound up in discouraging and checking smuggling, the interests of every trader would be placed against those of Government. It can hardly
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