CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 477

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25. The year B.E. 2462 (1919-20) res an -bnoima) one, The very high crices obtained for rice put plenty of money into the rockets of all persons connceted with the trađe, including middlemon and coolics. The Chinemen's usual meth- od of enjoying himself when in funds is to meet his friends and smoke opium, even though he may not be addicted to the drug, much in the same ray as Europorns moet and partake of alcohol. The result of this state of affairs as a consid- crrhis incrcase in opium smoking, both in licensed promises and illicitly. The illicit consumers Tero sell-to-do young Chinese who disliked untering orium duns, and they paid great- ly enhanced rices to the retailers for the drug to be sold outside the opium shops. The proof required/conviction under the old lans mes difficult to obtd n, and the penalties light. forcover, rrsons und r foreign jurisdiction sometimes posed is the owners of the places there the illicit sale and smok- ing of ocium were carried on, and this added to the difficul- ties of reiding such places, Nevertheless, the 111icit ox- rort of orium fell off for various rer sons. such 25:-

(1) The increased activity of the Customs which made export more difficulER.

(2) The ready sale of otium in the country et enhanced prices.

(3) The lessened demand from China where opium was a- Fain being croduced, notably in Szechuen Fovince.

The result of these various influences, as shown be the amount of opin sold during the year B.E. 2462 (1919-20) As en increase of 87. over the previous trelve months, vide Annexe V. The quantity as, however, still 7 less than fur- ing the last year of the sub-farming system, viz., B.E. 2450 (1917-18).

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26. In the present year B.E. 2463 (1920-21) the ditions have been the opposite of those of the prededing one, rs the rice crop of the crevious season as a failure and the export of rice has been totally prohibited during the greater part of the year. The consequent stagnation of trade

28 at once reflected in the sales of opium, and it is ex- rected that the reduction in sales as compared with the pre- vious trelve monthly period, will be in the neighbourhood of 15%. This diminution has afforded an excellent opportunity for fudging the amount of opium ordinertly consumed by per- sons not really dicted to the drug, and in certain Pro- vinces the quentities llored to retailers, for sale, have been restricted.