لستيني
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
CO. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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"its people to prevent the application of the same regulations for the sale of the drug. as have been granted in the United Kingdom, or, at the very least, as have been "allowed for the protection of the Burmese."
It prayed that the importation of opium and bhang should be prohibited save through the agency of the Civil Medical Department of Government, and that the sale be restricted to the regularly licensed apothecaries and dispensers under medical prescrip- tions; while, if thought necessary to meet the cases of confirmed victims to the use of such drugs in quantity, a register could be opened for such at the Government dispen- saries after the manner adopted in Burma. (It may be mentioned that, during the inquiry at the licensed shops, many of the regular customers readily made known their approval of restrictions, as saving their relatives and children from following their bad--- ruinous example, as they confessed it to be.)
7. As justifying a more advanced system of regulation in Ceylon, it must be remembered that education is far more advanced in the Island, in proportion to lation, than in either India or Burms; and the people are quite ready to welcome popu- administrative and social improvements. In any case, it can be averred with absolute confidence that the whole of the intelligent Sinhalese, Tamil, and Mahomedan com- munity are in favour of restriction,--their leaders, priests, and teachers being as earnest as Christian ministers and missionaries to see English or Burmese regulations applied to opium and bhang in Ceylon.
8. Sir Arthur Havelock and his Government, however, did nothing towards granting the prayer of the memorialists. It is possible that they deemed the occasion unsuitable -in view of the agitation about opium in India and the position taken up by officials there, though nothing can be clearer than the fact that there the cases of the two countries-the Sinhalese never growing opium, nor having been no comparison between accustomed under their Native rulers to import or use opium.
9. At the same time an official attempt was made to minimise the evil wrought by the unchecked import and sale of opium, by showing that the consumption was not increasing, in the following official statement :--
"The average importation of opium for each year of the decade 1871-80 amounted to 9,622 lbs., while for each year of the decade 1881-90 it amounted to 9,957 lbs., an increase of 385 lbs., or 3.5 per cent. on the annual importation; but taking into account the increase of population, there was an actual decrease per head. In the first period I lb. of opium was consumed by, or at least imported for, every 208 persona; in the second period 1 lb. was consumed by, or imported for 302 persons; in other words it now takes 302 persons to consume what was formerly used by 208."
10. In answer,
it may be pointed out that the consumption is mainly confined to Colombo and some other towns; that the concrete evidence of the actual evil wrought the Natives is not officially denied; nor the wish of such customers, as of the among vast body of the people, to have restrictions applied.
Further, it is not improbable that an increase of smuggling in opium from India on the persons of immigrants may account for the Customs not showing larger imports in the second decade.
11. But if, in place of comparing the decades closing with 1890, we take the figures showing opium entered for home consumption, at the Ceylon Customs from 1883 to 1894 (the latest available) we get a mean increase as follows :---
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
-
·
9,579 lbs.
1889
•
10,988 lbs.
10,502
19
1890
12,806
"
9,977
"7
1891
•
9,568
"
1892
-
9,976
"
·
9,147
39
1893 1894
•
-
12,814 12,457 12,989 12,714
"
12
"
"
It is quite evident, even on these figures, that in the past five years the consumption of opium in Ceylon has increased about 30 per cent. over the average for the decade ending with 1890.
12. Then it is important to know that the total of revenue at stake at present, from Customs duty and municipal or other licenses in Ceylon, is very trifling, not exceeding in all 50 or 60 thousand rupees, or 3,000l. to 4,0001.; although the present Native consumers of opium probably pay four or five times as much for what they buy. Nor can it be said that the above revenue would be sacrificed, even if the English Drug Regulations came into force, much less the Burmese, for there would still be a certain
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import paying the Customs duty-or what might well be an increased duty-the present levy being only one rupee (18. 3d.) pèr lb., and there would also be the price charged to the registered consumers, it such were kept officially supplied.
13. In any case it is absolutely indispensable to the welfare of the Sinhalese and other Natives that the four shops licensed in Colombo, both for the sale of opium and for smoking on the premises, and the 89 other opium shops throughout the Island, should be suppressed; and the sale of opium, as of all other drugs, allowed only on medical prescription, except so far as the Ceylon Government may consider it wise, through its own medical department, to meet the case of existing victims to opium-regular customers at the licensed shops-by forming a register and arranging for a supply at the nearest Government dispensaries.
19, Emperor's Gate, London, S.W.
July 9, 1896.
SIR
J. FERGUSON,
(35 years' resident in Colombo, Ceylon).
No. 13.
SIR J. WEST RIDGEWAY to Ms. CHAMBERLAIN, (Received December 14, 1896.)
28th September 1895. 16th October 1895. 21st August 1896.
[Answered by No. 14.]
Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon,
November 19, 1896.
Your despatches noted in the margin, relative to the sale of Opium and Hemp
drugs, have been carefully considered by me in Executive Council.
2. We have unanimously decided that the importation of Ganja and Bhang should be absolutely prohibited, and that the duty on opium should be doubled, that is to say, raised from R. 1 per] lb. to Rs. 2 per lb. The prohibition of the importation of Ganja and Bhang will involve no hardship. Its use is without doubt detrimental; it has no beneficial use; and its consumption is confined to a very few persons in this Island. I do not think that at present there is any necessity for legislating in order to prevent the cultivation of hemp in this Island; but careful supervision will be exercised as regards this possibility.
3. Assuming that this decision will meet with your approval, it is unnecessary for me to discuss the various restrictions upon the use of Ganja and Bhang proposed in your despatch of the 28th September 1895.†
4. As regards opium, the consumption in this Island, as you are aware, is not great; and I do not believe that the consumption per head is increasing, As a rule, opium is eaten, not smoked; but there is a certain amount of smoking. There is, however, in our opinion, no necessity for a difference of treatment of the two practices.
5. I would further add that every effort will be made to check the improper use of opium, and that under section 4 of Ordinance No. 2 of 1893, the maximum number of licenses which may be issued for the sale by retail of opium is restricted to five within the limits of any municipal council, and to three within the limits of any local board, for any one year.
6. As regards the proposal to fix a minimum sum for the privilege of selling opium, it has been the practice of the municipalities to refuse the highest bid if it appeared to be insufficient. It may be a question, however, whether the result of such notion would not be that opium sellers would make strenuous efforts to push the sale if they found that the minimum price insisted upon would not yield them a fair return on their capital.
• Nos. 10, 11, and 12.
K 4
I have, &c.
1
WEST RIDGEWAY.
† No. 10
SIR,
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No 14
M2. CHAMBERLAIN to Sm J. WEST RIDGEWAY.
Downing Street, Jamery 16, 1897.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 19th November last® relative to the trailo in Opium und Hetep druge in Cuylom, and to approm your proposal to prohibit the impartation of Bhang and Glenfa, and
the duty on opium.
2.. I inclone for four information copy of a letter from the India Office, relative to the restrictions imposed on opium smoking in India, and also a Parliamentary Paper (C-7991] containing correspondence arising out of the Report of the Royal Commission on Opium.
9. I am of opinion that the effect of allowing oplam to be smoked in the Hoensed shops in Ceylon should be carefully watched, with a view to commkhring whether the policy adopted by the Government of India, of closing such opiup-smoking establish- ments, should not be followed in Ceylon.
4. I would also draw your attention to the statement made by Mr. J. Ferguson in his, memorandum which was anclosed in my despatch of 21st August last,† that children of any age may buy and inks sway opium from the loomed shops," and I would suggest that this practice should be prohibited.
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
Enclosure in No. 14.
Intlin Odins, Whitehall, London, S.W.,
January 7, 1897.
» lngrinindian thud, arnelsing nba have been. meet together to
In reply to your letter dated the 19th December 1806, Scoretary of State for India to say that the decision to wishbald liosm opium to be smoked upon the premises has been sunied out. In India ne rook Hostians are now gemised. But no- taken place. Frons some plnost it has been supuć established without Hosnses, and, sa the law standa, men opinen, no tợng na tlsey bring their own pipas and drugs. As yet the Government of India have not seen nesreally for legislating further in the matter; and from some provinces more especially from the Punjab, where the prohibition of agium salooms has been longuet in foros,—it is reported that the habit of opium amoking is abazing and that the younger men are mot baking to the praction.
I hava, do..
• Ya 18.
† Mo. 13.
Honagh WatfOLE.