CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 512

9

510

The calling into exist.nes of restriction

that it would

"r ́s with a licuncu-systum whe found d on th. id.a bo no rly possible to compul a ril-tivaly 1rge numb.r of opium-

It was therefore smokers sucionly to stop using opium entirely. considered butter to permit thos, who wore nirosdy nccustomed to the rug, to continu. to us. it, but to prevent the enslaving of others to the drug. The quantitios allowed to each of the smokɩrs word fixed according to those which they regularly used and olso their incomus. Tho inoruaso of quantities already fixed, is only pormitted in exceptional casus. Aftur a certain period, usually 6 months after the licence-system has cono into operation, no now permits are issued. In very exceptional circumstances, when this would givo riso to noudless severity, can the Government pormit further now licunces to bo issuod.

Then the regulations are properly maintained, therefore, a district in which a licence-system as discussed above. is in operation, mut in due course become opium-free,

In order to detect the breach of the restric- tive laws more easily, eclusively opium, the packing of which has a distinctive mark, is sold in a number of restriction-areas with licence-systems, and the possession of other opium is prohibited.

X.

Since 1914 powerful measures were taken besides

in order to achieve the eradication of the use of opium as fer 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 April 1st 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 et first still possible that new licences be issued to contract labourers working in the Banka tin-mines, who had been contracted outside the residency. This however is no longer bne since lat. September 1917, so that the number of licences automatically dimi- nishes, 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 construc-

that, after tion of the South Sumatra Railway an agreement was made * period of transition, no opium-smokers would be tolerated amongst the labourers, sothat already for a considerable period there are no labourers engaged on the construction who legally use opium.