CO129-020 - Sir John Davis - 1847 [5-8] — Page 186

4.

from which amount must be deducted the oahu of the advantages gained by the junks in punchasing at the,

at the port of discharge and the profit of the Hongkong retacter. Heaving

no certain data on which to calculate,

amounts must be conjectural.

these

The quantity sold in the looting monthly by retail may perhaps be estimated at 80 chests, the price of smuggling may be estimated at $ 30. a Chest, the propt of the intermediate dealer at 20¢ a chest, the value

of the aforesaid advanta

antages at 10% a Chest and the profit of the Honghong dealer also at 10% a chest. Assuming these amounts to be correct, 1,560 $ ammth, for 19% $ a chest) the present - taxe, is 10% # perchest less than that,

the

Native.

The

+ paid by

e purchaser in his own Country .

the number.

- greater the mun

of junks

that

resort to the Colony, the Greater will be the quantity of opium sold and the greater

the tuxe which the dealers can

efford to

Y

3:

180

pay. It is therefore the obvious interest of the

Government - considered murely.

as

to the question

revenue to encourage the resort of traders. 2. Under the existing system,

tem the sole

prinlege of selling Opium by retail within the Colony or its waters, whether for exportation=

Colonial consun.

Consumption, is

sold an

annually by

ረን

public auction to one person, who finds security for the payment of the purchase money. ly instalments . He proposes of Crisse to enrich himself as much as possible within the year. without reference to the future. As he has no competition to fear, he raises the price of opinion to the highest point at which he can find purchasers, evasion and su

Smuggling increase in - proportion, and he is compelled to

support a large preventive establishment, the expense of which must also be an

of the price.

But smuggling

ingredient

can be conducted

mo

with so much facility that no exertions of the