CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 549

547

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hardship to persons addicted to the drug to be deprived of their usual dose, the Government was compelled to increase the fixed quantities. The epium experted to China was, of course, smuggled out, and it is hardly necessary to say that the detection of cutward amugling is as difficult as that of opium being smuggled in. The Government fully realized its ebligation under the Hague Convention and did its best to stop the practice. The old opium laws, however, made no provision for the prohibition of expert of Government

pium, and convictions in the Courts could not be obtained. Nevertheless, many casus ef experts wore detected and stopped by the Customs authorities. (See table II. Annex IV.).

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In the mustim although the ursplan "ar had nuoussarily caused opium to casu te figure as an interna- Final

radual suppression

the Government had not been in pursuing

had taken the next step indicatud, viz., that of discountinuing the farming system of sale entirely. The now arrangment came into opur- ation in B.E. 2461 (1910 19), when the Sub-Farmors ocasca

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te exist their places buing baken by the Revenue officials In every Amphur (District #ffiour) and increases in staff being made where necessary. This additional staff, covering the whole kingdom, involved a considerable expenditure, it was casily covered by the prefits of en tical pur tamlung, which formerly accrued to the sub-Farmur. Vidu alse para.II.

21.

but

At the same time various other changes roro m do

fur

in the mathed of salu, vith the object ef gaining contrel retailers and smokers. For instance, all retailers of opiem were required te ebtain their steaks from the No1 Amphur and they were allowed to retail the drug for consumption en their promises only. Persons addicted to opium could, there- fore, ordinarily smcku enly in liounsod premises; cxouptions vere made in the cas of individuals of standing Tho dusinā to smoke at home, but they had te rugister themselves and tak cut licnsus to do so. The license ras in the form of a pass book in which the purchase of the lience was cnturud, and the Nai Amphur ras required to fix in cach case, the Smokers vere thus quantity which could be so purchased, divided into tre entugorius, those rho had to smoke in liounsed promicus, and those ligcnsed to smoke at home. objuot c thus provisions as to give greater facilities for inspection and control, and go away with the promiscuous smoking in cat-of-thu-ray places thigh was then provalent. This promiscuous smoking was one of the most fruitful oriusus of young men taking to the habit of smoking opium.

The