PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Articles 8, 13, and (c) of the Convention are entirely covered by its terms. Sir E. Grey is, however, of opinion that the question of any further legislation which may appear to be requisite might for the present be postponed until the Convention has been ratified.
17219
(No. 77.)
SIR,
No. 31.
BAHAMAS.
I am, &c.,
EYRE A. CROWE.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received June 4, 1912.)
[Answered by No. 77.]
Government House, Nassau, 17th May, 1912.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Circular despatch of the 7th of March.* with reference to an Opium Convention.
2. Your despatch under reply, and a copy of the Convention, were transmitted to the House in my message, No. 25, of the 15th of April, of which I enclose a copy, together with a copy of the report of the Select Committee thereon. The report of the Select Committee was last night adopted unanimously by the House.
3. My Government agrees, therefore, to the Convention being signed on its behalf.
I have, &c.,
W. GREY-WILSON,
Governor.
Enclosure 1 in No. 31.
MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR to THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
(Bahamas. No. 25.)
The Governor has the honour to transmit to the House a copy of a Circular despatch* from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, enclosing a transcript of an International Opium Convention, signed at the Hague on the 23rd of January, 1912, by representatives of all the great nations of the world.
The Governor also transmits to the House a translation of the twenty-five Articles constituting the Convention.
The Governor trusts that the House will adopt such a Resolution as will enable him to inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that this Government is pre- pared to agree to the Convention being signed on its behalf. His Majesty's Govern- ment deems it of great importance that all His Majesty's Possessions should be bound by the Convention.
Article 24 provides that a Bill for giving effect to the Convention shall be pre- pared not later than six months after the Convention comes into force, and the Government will comply with this provision if the House adopts the suggested
W. GREY-WILSON,
resolution.
Government House,
Nassau, April 15th, 1912.
Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
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Message, No. 25, with reference to the International Opium Convention, signed at the Hague on the 23rd January, 1912, beg to report:
That the Committee, having read with much interest the translation of the various Articles constituting the Convention, desire to express their sympathy with and approval of the efforts that are being made for the gradual suppression of the abuse of opium, and of morphine, cocaine, and similar drugs. While no facts have been submitted which would justify them in believing that any extensive abuse of these drugs exists in the Colony, the Committee are of the opinion that this Government should agree to the Con- vention being signed on its behalf. They therefore recommend that a resolu- tion he adopted by the House indicating its willingness to take the necessary steps to render effective the measures decided upon in the Convention.
G. H. GAMBLIN. GEO. M. COLE. W. P. ADDERLEY,
While I am in sympathy with the Convention I in no way bind myself to vote for the Bill that shall follow this report.
R. H. CURRY.
Committee Room,
House of Assembly,
May 14, 1912.
I sympathize with the efforts that are being made for the suppression of the abuse of opium, morphine, and cocaine. This Colony, however, does not trade in these drugs except to the extent of making small importations for what are apparently legitimate uses; no facts have been adduced to lead me to believe that there is any extensive abuse of them by our people. The conditions which necessarily exist among a scanty population scattered through a number of islands with limited means of communication and with the services of qualified practitioners of medicine available to only a part of the people, make it inadvisable to enact any measure which will tend to prevent the sale on the out islands of any of these drugs or which will place obstacles in the way of suffering humanity who might wish to obtain one of them for the relief of pain.
Committee Room,
House of Assembly,
May 14, 1912.
Enclosure 3 in No. 31.
HON. HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
G. H. JOHNSON.
NOTICES OF MOTIONS FOR Thursday Evening, May 16th, 1912.
ADOPTION OF REPORT.
Mr. GAMBIJN,
ON His Excellency the Governor's Message, No. 25, with reference to the Inter- national Opium Convention, and if that report is adopted he will move the adoption of the following resolution :-
Resolved, that this House regards with approval the measures that are being taken by the International Hague Convention for the gradual and effect- tive suppression of the manufacture of internal trade in, and use of, prepared opium, with due regard to the varying circumstances of each country con- cerned; and that a Message be sent to His Excellency the Governor informing him that in the opinion of the House this Government should agree to the Convention being signed on its behalf.
Resolution passed by the House 16th May, 1912.
Enclosure 2 in No. 31,
REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE.
The Select Committee to whom was referred His Excellency the Governor's
No. 2.
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