[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
со
30132
RECS Rrot 15 SCP [August 17.]
SECTION 1.
[32621]
No. 1.
Question asked in the House of Commons, August 17, 1911.
Mr. Theodore C. Taylor,-To ask the Under Secretary of State for India what were the stocks of Malwa and of provision opium, respectively, on the 1st April last and at the present time; and how many acres, if any, are now being authorised by the Indian Government to be sown with the opium poppy for next year's crop.
Answer.
Mr. Montagu: The stock of Bengal provision opium on the 31st March last was returned at 32,598 chests. Deducting the number of chests sold for export to China and elsewhere from April to August, the stock is now about 19,700 chests. Malwa opium stocks are in the hands of traders for the most part resident in native States, and are not returned. They were estimated last year at upwards of 50,000 chests. The area for which licences to cultivate opium will be granted this year has been approximately fixed at 200,000 acres.
[32620]
No. 2.
Question asked in the House of Commons, August 17, 1911.
Mr. Theodore C. Taylor,-To ask the Under Secretary of State for India what was the number of chests of opium sold in Calcutta for export to China, and what was the price per chest in each of the months of April, May, June, July, and August this year.
Answer.
Mr. Montagu: The number of chests of opium sold in Calcutta, with the option of certificates for China and the price per chest, were :—
Date.
Chests.
Average price.
1911.
Rupees.
April
2.020
2,934
May
2,620
2,324
June
2,620
3,045
July
195
8,367
August
195
3.235
1]
489
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