CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 483

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13.

often made fssuming n incre se or decre-se in orium con- sumption by a mere consideration of the monet-ry results attained. In no case, hoover, should rny conclusions on the point be dram, in tho rbsence of information. As to the amount of opium sold or consumed.

43. Annexe VIII shows year by year the total revenue of the Strte from all sources, the revenue derived from op- ium, the quantity of orium sold, and the price charged to the consumer, rer trmlung. It il bo sen from this that the quantity sold has not varied very gror tly d nce the Gov- crnment took over the "F", running between pppaxinato- 1y 2,000,000 and 1,800,000 temlungs annurlly. The revenue accruing to the Government hes, horever, incre^sed steadily oring, in nearly all cases, to the gradu-11y enhanced sale price of the drug. The immediate effect of an incrossed

rice is s the Trble shors, generally a slight drop in the quantity sold during that year, but the amount usually rises in subsequent vera to the normal consumption. In nearly all cracs, the oconomic condition of the country, as af- fected by the state of the rice crop end the consuquent trada position, is reflected in the sales of the yö^r.

44. A study of the Table will show that comiencing from B.E.2453 (1910-11) tho sale price hes been gradually raised until, by B.E.2460 (1917-18, it. es noerly double the figure of B.E. 2452 (1909-10); the profits were also proportionato- ly incrassed, but the quantity sold roma inod practically un- changud. It is clear, therefore, that, despite the great advrneo in the revenue from the ocium monopoly during the last 10 or 11 years, there has been no incru so in the con- sumption of the drug, but rather that the carning power of the people has increased and that to their improved circum- atencos may h attributed the much enhanced profits accru- ing to the Government.

45, there are, however, mgers attending a too gront incronse in prico, one of which is to induce the poorer class of smokors to ont dross hich is noro harmful tha gmoking, hilo agrin it may drive them to theft to obtain moncy to satisfy their cravings. In the latter cnao, those Putty criminals become a burden on the rest of the community. The present or ic of Tes. 15 par temlung is about the max- imum which can be charged at present since the smallest size of tube (1/60 of 2 taalung) retrils for 25 satengs. which represent's 25% to 30% of an average labouring man's daily warnings. This price has been current s neo B.E.2460 (1917-18); the incruse of profit shown in B.E. 2461 (1918- 19) was due to the elimination of the sub-F-rmer mentioned in para, 20.