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International Opium Convention signed at the Hague on the 23rd day of January, 1912, and to regulate the importation into and the storage and disposal of opium, morphine, cocaine, and similar drugs in the Colony of St. Vincent.

2. This Colony agreed to be bound by the aforesaid Convention when it was deemed expedient to regulate the importation and the storage and disposal of opium, morphine, cocaine, and similar drugs, and this Ordinance defines these terms, and makes it unlawful to import into the Colony any prepared opium.

3. Any opium imported must be deposited in stores appointed by the Governor for the purpose, and no opium can be withdrawn except on a Medical Officer's authority, and only by registered medical practitioners, dentists, and druggists, whilst to grow or cultivate the opium poppy is made unlawful.

4. Heavy penalties are imposed for the infringement of the Ordinance, and ample powers of search warrant and seizure are afforded to the police for the enforcement of the law.

5. I am of opinion that there is no reason why His Excellency's assent should not be given to the Ordinance.

November 21st, 1912.

ROBERT E. NOBLE,

Acting Attorney-General, St. Vincent.

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5. I may here remark that the Excise Department will, of course, eventually have to take over the control of the consumption of opium, morphia, and cocaine, but I do not consider that this can properly be done at present. The control of intoxicating liquor will fully occupy the resources of the Department for the next few years, and I am averse from taking any steps which would tend to complicate the work of that Department.

6. I take this opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your despatch, No. 98, of the 8th March, 1912,* forwarding copies of the Convention and" Protocole de Clôture" which were signed at the Hague on the 23rd January, 1912, by the Delegates of the Powers represented at the International Opium Conference. In compliance with the instructions contained in paragraph 4 of your despatch I took the opportunity of requesting the above Committee to report as to the steps which should be taken in order to give effect to the Convention, more particularly Articles 3, 6, 7, and 9-14. The Committee's reply will be found in Section IV. of their report. It will be observed that if the recommendations made by them in Section III. are carried out, the requirements of the Convention will be fully met.

I have, &c.,

HENRY MCCALLUM,

Governor, &c.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

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41417

No. 142. CEYLON.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 30 December, 1912.)

(Confidential.)

SIR.

[Answered by No. 144.]

The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 11th December, 1912. I HAVE the honour to report that on the receipt of your Confidential despatch of the 19th January, 1912,* I appointed a small Committee consisting of the Controller of Revenue, the Principal Civil Medical Officer, the Principal Collector of Customs, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, and Dr. T. F. Garvin, late of the Ceylon Medical Service :-

(1) To furnish me with a confidential report on the present use of such drugs as opium, morphia, and cocaine in this Colony as compared with their use in India, and more particularly to report whether the consumption of these drugs is on the increase in Ceylon;

(2) To analyse and compare with the practice in Ceylon the proposals made by the Indian Government regarding this matter, and to make any recommendations as to any further action which the Committee's investigations might lead them to think desirable.

2. The Committee presented their report on the 29th August last, and I trans- mit herewith six copiest thereof, and of connected papers for your information. The report is a valuable document; it affords much useful information as to the consumption of opium, morphia, and cocaine in this Colony. The upshot of the information is that the opium habit is in process of extinction, morphia does not appear to be used for illegitimate purposes, and the illegitimate use of cocaine, though it exists to an extent rendering new restrictions necessary, is not prevalent to anything approaching the same degree as in India. The report indicates clearly the steps which should be taken to check the use and consumption of the latter drug. The Committee's recommendations have been unanimously approved by the Executive Council.

3. The report will now be forwarded to the Attorney-General, the Principal Collector of Customs, and the Postmaster-General, in order that they may confer and submit a joint report as to the exact amendments of existing legislation which will be necessary to give effect to the proposals of the Committee.

4. I propose also to request the Attorney-General to prepare a draft Ordinance to he introduced in the next Session of the Legislative Council providing inter alia for the registration of chemists and druggists.

238: not printed.

Not reprinted.

(No. 509.)

SIR,

No. 143.

TRINIDAD.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 21 January, 1913.)

[Answered by No. 148.]

Government House, 31st December, 1912. I HAVE the honour to transmit, for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure, authenticated copy, in duplicate, of an Ordinancet which has been passed by the Legislature of this Colony, entitled "An Ordinance to give effect to the measures decided upon in the International Opium Convention signed at the Hague on the 23rd day of January, 1912, and to regulate the importation into [sic] and the storage and disposal of opium, morphine, cocaine, and similar drugs."

2. I enclose a copy of the Attorney-General's report on this Ordinance, and shall be glad to receive your instructions as to whether an amending Ordinance should be introduced in the Legislative Council in order to remedy the defects in Sections 7 and 16 to which he draws attention.

3. The Collector of Customs, a copy of whose minute I append, recommends that the Ordinance should not be brought into operation before the 1st of July next; and I would also ask for instructions on this point.

I have, &c.,

GEORGE R. LE HUNTE,

Governor. P.S. I may mention that the Unofficial Members of Council voted against the Ordinance.

Enclosure 2 in No. 143.

REPORT BY HONOURABLE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

This Ordinance has been passed in accordance with the instructions contained in the Secretary of State's despatch, No. 324, of 23rd September last. On the advice of Honourable Collector of Customs, all reference to ships in Section 10 has been omitted.

I take it that the intention of Section 7 is to allow of doctors and druggists prescribing and selling opium for medicinal purposes. But if a patient buys any opium which has been prescribed for him, he would appear to be liable under Section 8

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† Not reprinted.

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