26
of quantities already fixed, is only permitted in excep- tional cases. After a certain period, usually 6 months after the licence-system has come into operation, no new permits are issued. In very exceptional circumstances, when this would give rise to needless severity, can the Government permit further new licences to be issued.
When the regulations are properly maintained, therefore, a district in which a licence-system as discussed above, is in operation, must in due course become opium-free.
In order to detect the breach of the restrictive laws more easily, exclusively opium, the packing of which has a dis- tinctive mark, is sold in a number of restriction-areas with license-systems, and the possession of other opium is pro- hibited.
X.
Since 1914 powerful measures were taken besides in order to achieve the eradication of the use of opium as far as possible in the first place there, where the Government, as employer, is in its own bounds. In consequence thereof, the following measures were brought into force.
Commencing on 1st. April 1915, a licence-system was introduced in the residency Banka and attached territories for all users of opium. According to the conditions thereof, it was at first still possible that new licences be issued to con- tract labourers working in the Banka tin-mines, who had been contracted outside the residency. This however is no longer done since 1st. September 1917, so that the number of licensees automatically diminishes, and, even if no further steps were taken, the use of opium in Banka will in the not distant future be a thing of the past.
With the Official in charge of the construction of the South Sumatra Railway an agreement was made, that, after a period of transition, no opium-smokers would be tolerated amongst the labourers, so that already for a considerable period there are no labourers engaged on the construction, who legally use opium.
27
At the Ombilin-mines the use of opium is forbidden to the chain-gangers as from 1st. April 1915. It was still per- mitted to the free labourers on a personal permit, but since 1st. January 1918, all legal use of opium has also come to an end
Also for other Government undertakings regulations were formulated. These are not always closely applied, so that a Government circular was drawn up in 1921, in which it was pointed out that it had appeared, that when labourers were recruited for the Government undertakings or public works account was not always taken of the approved principles as regards the use of opium, often on account of ignorance of the existing regulations. It was therefore considered desirable that the attention of the heads of these undertakings be call- ed to this matter, at the same time making known the prin- ciples of the opium policy, which to prevent misunderstanding were recalled to mind.
In the first place the use opium must everywhere be com- batted, where the Government is in its own bounds.
As parts in its "own bounds" must be considered all Government mining and agricultural undertakings, and further all Public Works, where the housing of the labourers is looked after by the Government.
In places where the labourers have to look after their own housing, care will have to be taken, that no opium is used during work, but the smoking of opium outside of that does not require to be forbidden, if the local laws relating to the Opiumregie allow that a permit to possess and transport regie-opium can be issued without the previous consent of the Governor-General.
In connection with the widely differing regulations for the Opiumregie in the different parts of Netherlands India, the heads in charge of the abovementioned works will have to satisfy themselves first if opium-smokers may also be recruited, before engaging labourers from other places.
If that should appear not to be the case, then they just the same as those in charge of undertakings and works where housing is provided for the coolies will have to
58
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.