CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 128

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(1) morphine and cocaine and their salts;

(2) all preparations containing more than 0.2 per

cent. of morphine or more than 0.1 per cent. of cocaine.

(3) Heroine and its salts and preparations con-

taining more than 0.1 per cent. of Heroine. (4) Medicinal opium as defined in the Convention. Moreover, they are to be extended ultimately to other derivatives of opium or cocaine, should occasion require, and any legislation that may be framed should therefore give power to extend the provisions of the Act to such other drugs by Order in Council.

Subject to these observations, legislation on the lines of the original proposals would appear to be suf ficient to comply with the provisions of Chapter III, Articles 9-14 of the Convention.

As regards manufacture, the number of manufacturers in the United Kingdom who prepare these drugs from the raw product, is known to be small. Probably not more than six firms actually manufacture morphie, though there are meny others who manufacture preparations which contain it. It is probably undesirable to establish an excise duty for these products or to put the manufacture under the control of a revenue department, but there is no reason why a moderately heavy licence duty should not be instituted. The inspection would not in this case be of the continuous character applicable to exciseable articles, but would be an inspection of books and registers from time to time, whose accuracy would only be challenged where fraud or attempted suggling were suspected.

It is for consideration whether the manufacture of preparations containing the drugs should not be subject to a different and cheaper licence then the actual manufacture of the salta themselves.

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