CO129-347 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [4-6] — Page 503

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500

finances at the present moment are wholly unable to meet

and in the inception of which the taxpayers have had no

voice.

8.

I am the more anxious to press

upon Your Lordship the proposals contained in paragraph 6

for the following considerations:-

(a).

The persons who frequent Divans

are for the most part confirmed smokers, and it is probable

that the sudden and complete abolition of all Divane will

drive them to smoke in places not under the careful super-

-vision of the Police and the Sanitary Board as the Divans

are. It may result in some taking to alcohol, of which

of course there is a plentiful supply of the cheapest and

worst kinds in a Port such as this. Finally it will

certainly compel a considerable number to smoke in their

own houses

especially those of the better class -. This

in effect means that the domestic circle will be habituated

to the sight of Opium smoking with a consequential lower-

-ing of the standard of domestic life, and the not im-

-probable result of women and boys taking to the habit. It

is probable

indeed almost certain - that the too sudden

restriction of Opium smoking will lead to the increased

consumption in the form of Pills or Morphine injection;

habits