CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 434

432

While the importance of the traffic and the rich harvests, which its future promises are no doubt known to many of your readers, the methods by which this growing industry is fostered may not be common kucwledge.

THE BEGINNING OF SMUGGLING.

Morphia is manufactured chiefly in England, Germany, and Austria. Formerly it was brought to Japan by steamiers, chiefly of the N.D.L. Line, and was transhipped in Kobe Harbour to steamers plying to China. In China the duty on morphia was raised in 1903. In 1902, the year before the raising of the duty, the amount imported was 5 tons. Raising the duty gave regrettable impetus to smuggling. In 1904, the year after the taty was raised, the amount recorded as passing the Maritime Customs was 125 oz. only, yet in the meantime there is no reason to doubt that the amount actually imported had increased.

Since the 1st January, 1909, the importation into China of morphia and of all morphia appliances is prohibited, except in the case of duly qualified foreign medical practitioners and foreign chemists and civil and military hospitals complying with certain conditions. Despite this prohibition, the importation of morphia and of It is morphia appliances is one of the most profitable trades in the country. exclusively in the hands of the Japanese, and is carried on with the full approval of the Japanese Government.

IMPORT VIA SIBERIA.

The chief wholesale firm in Japan dealing with morphia is a foreign company domiciled in Osaka, who are agents of a firm of British manufacturing chemists of Battersea. In 1913 this firm imported, via Siberia, by registered post, 5,680 lb. (about 2 tous) weight of muriate of morphia in powder, crystals. and cubes. The chief client of this foreign company is the largest wholesale chemist in Japan. Another important client is a prominent bookselling firm in Tokyo. British chemists in Japan deal direct with the manufacturers in Glasgow and Edinburgh, At the Mission Conference in Edinburgh in 1910 Dr. Main, of Hangehow, made reference to the manufacture of morphia by Edinburgh chemists, whereupon it is recorded that some of the elders present were observed to change countenance.

German firms in Japan, such as Karl Rohde, used to import direct from Hainburg, Berlin, and Vienna, the two chief manufacturing firms in Germany having the same name Böhringer. German firms continued for some time to import their morphia by steamer, but prior to the war they had begun to use the Siberian mail route.

EXPORTS TO CHINA IN 1913.

The morphia trade began to assume unusual proportions in September 1912. During the year 1913, 6 tons of muriate of morphia were imported into Japan and and re-exported from Japan to Corea and China. From the Battersea chemist alone 24 tons were imported. Another 2 tons were handled by other English firms. The import by German firms was admitted to be 1 tons, a total of 6 tons.

To Japan the morphia is imported by registered post viâ Siberis, the price being arranged telegraphically and the mail train being used because of the certainty of its arrival at due date Notification is given by the dealer to the Japanese post-office of the expected arrival of a stated quantity of morphia. A form has then to be filled in stating particulars. Duty at the tariff rate of 1020 yeu per lb. is paid into the Bank of Japan and a receipt given. On the production of this receipt the morphia is handed over.

On the re-export of the morphia from Osaka to Japanese agents in Corea or Dalny, an export certificate is handed to the bank and a complete refund of the duty is made to the shipper. This happens only in the case of export to Corea or to Tairen, but presumably this privilege will now be extended to Tsingtao. In the case of export to Shanghai no refund of duty can be claimed, because the import of morphia into China is forbidden, and the Japanese Government would scorn to lend official support to the movement of contraband.

5

PROSPECTS IN SHANTUNG AND FUKIEN.

For the successful retail distribution of morphia it is essential that the industry remain in Japanese hands. Your correspondent has pointed out the success of the traffic in Manchuria. Even still more encouraging are the prospects of future trade in Shantung and in Fukien, Profits are enormous; the risk of punishment nonę.

In Tairen and in Manchuria generally the average charge for a hypodermic injection is 4 cents. The average minimum amount required to produce the desired narcotic effect is a quarter of a grain. From the better classes as much as 10 cents can be obtained. Many have their own hypodermic apparatus. All morphia appliances come from Japan, the Chinese having not yet acquired the art of making either hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles.

Throughout 1913 the average cost of morphia laid down in Japan, including freight and commission, was 89.80 yen per lb. The average price paid to the manufacturer in England was 108, 5d. per oz.

In the preparation of morphia English chemists (it is, of course, understood that I am describing normal conditions prior to the war) use mainly opium grown in Asia Minor. This contains on an average 10 per cent. of morphia, and the amount of morphia in a salt such as the muriate of morphia is 75 per cent. One ounce of muriate of morphia costs the Japanese wholesale dealer less than 128. delivered in Japan. The price at which it is retailed by the Japanese pedlar in China is not less than 41. 6s. 8d. per oz., this sum being arrived at in this way: 1 oz. contains 4375 grains, a quarter grain being the average dose and 4 cents being the average price of the average dose, equals 6,516 cents per outice, which, at 125 cents to the dollar and 12 dollars to the ., equals 41. 6s. 8d.

At this rate, the retail sale in China of 63 tons represents a profit to the Japanese dealers of 840,0001.

!