83
Enclosure 1 in No. 53.
STATEMENT BY THE COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS.
The import duty on opium and ganja is 15s. the lb., and the imports for the last 10 years were as under:
(No. 247.)
SIR,
(Received July 9, 1912.)
[Answered by No. 82.]
Government House, 21st June, 1912.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your circular despatch of the 7th March, enclosing copies of the International Opium Convention signed at The Hague on the 23rd of January, 1912, and directing that, unless I have any strong objections to urge, you should be informed at an early date that this Government is I have also to prepared to agree to the Convention being signed on its behalf. acknowledge the receipt of your further circular despatch of the 16th ultimo.†
2. The matter under reference has received the careful consideration of this Government, and, after consultation with my advisers in Executive Council and other officers, I desire to place before you the following reasons which, in our opinion, render it inadvisable that this Colony should adhere to the Convention:—
(i) The introduction and distribution of opium in the Colony is carefully guarded under Ordinance No. 280, of which a copy is appended.‡
(ii) No abuse of its use has been shown here. The attached statement pre- pared by the Collector of Customs of the imports of opium and ganja during the last ten years shows that, notwithstanding the increase of the East Indian population, the consumption of both opium and ganja has not increased within that period, indicating that the steps already taken for the control and gradual suppression of the trade have met with a fair measure of success.
(iii) The prohibition of the importation of opium would entail a loss of revenue to the extent of £2,000 to £3,000 per annum-or £6,000 if the importa- tion of ganja is also to be prohibited-which the Colony cannot afford. (iv) Such prohibition would promote smuggling (especially of ganja) from Venezuela, it being practically impossible to prevent it owing to the relative geographical position of the two countries.
3. My Government trusts that the above reasons may be considered sufficient
to justify the non-adherence of this Colony to the Convention.
4. In compliance with the direction contained in your circular despatch of the 16th of May, under acknowledgment, I have the honour to transmit the following documents:-
Ordinance No. 280, relating to the sale of opium and ganja; Customs Regulations, 1907 (vide pages 25, 26, 33, and 67);
Return by the Collector of Customs showing the trade of the Colony in opium and other drugs of a similar nature in respect of the five years ended on the 31st December, 1911.
Your instructions in regard to the regular transmission to you, as soon as possible after the 31st of December of each year, of statistics for the preceding twelve months. and copies of any laws, proclamations, rules, &c., issued within that period, have been noted and will be duly given effect to.
I have, &c.,
Governor.
GEORGE R. LE HUNTE,
P.S.-I enclose a copy of a minute by the Collector of Customs.
• No. 2.
↑ No. 18.
Not printed.
Year.
Opium.
Duty.
Ganje.
Duty.
LhA.
£
Lhs.
'
1902
3.279
2.459
4,324
3,213
1903
3,327
2,547
5,438
4,078
1901
3,081
2.311
5,111
4,058
1905
2,855
2,111
5,366
4,023
1906
2,577
2,154
4,956
3.717
1907
3,065
2,299
5,033
3,775
1908
2.736
2,052
4,633
3,475
1909
2,812
2,100
4,565
3,423
1910
2,732
2,019
4,610
3.457
1911
2,715
2,059 I 4,653
3,490
There are no exports as far as the Customs are aware.
9th May, 1912.
H. B. WALCOTT,
Collector of Customs.
Enclosure 4 in No. 53.
RETURN showing the trade of the Colony of Trinidad in opium and other drugs of a
similar nature in respect of the five years ended the 31st December, 1911.
Prepared Opium.
Imports.
3,066 lbs.
Exports. None.
*
Year.
1907
1908
2,737
1909
2,812
1910
2,732
"
15
1911
2,745
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
Ganja.
5,034 lbs.
4,634
+1
4,565
4,610
4,653
None.
"}
39
(Small quantities of morphine, cocaine, and their respective salts and extracts
are imported by licensed druggists, of which no record had been kept.)
20th June, 1912.
II. B. WALCOTT,
Enclosure 5 in No. 53.
Collector of Customs.
MINUTE BY the ('ollector OF CUSTOMS.
HONOURABLE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
THE restrictions imposed on the importation and sale of opium and gauja in this Colony are as follows:-
(a) Opium is prohibited from being imported unless in ships of 100 tons burden, and unless in packages each containing not less than 20 lbs. net weight, and forming part of the cargo of the importing ship and duly reported at the Custom House.
33511
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
1117 CO. 885
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