CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 554

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552

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only effective method by which this object can be attained appears to be to register all smokers ithin a certain debo, and to limit the quintity & coium hich such registered smokers are alloted to consumo d∙117. As these rogistered smokors gradually die out, the next genert lon should be free from the habit. The theory unds simplc, but the methods by high t orn be cut into pr-dice effectively are nocos- srily difficult nd ocmelie tod, chiefly in connection with the retailing of the drug to consumers.

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34. So fr s the information at the disposal of this Government gocs, it

ould appor tht under the systcms follood in Formos: Burma, Java, British laya (Str its Settlements and Federated lalay States) and French Indo- China, the purchaser of opium, whether registered, or not, may smoke it in rny place he pleases, In Siam this la héld to be highly undesirable as control over individual smokers in scattered plates is difficult and such systems as those believed to be in force in the countries mentioned appear to afford opportunities for smoking for the not yet ad-

dicted to the habit.

35. As explained in para 21 the method of sale in this country is through retdlers fr consumption on the emises only that is, in opium shop is at the same time ala ก smoking thice, Exceptions are made in the case of well-to-do persons of standing in the community ho do not care to enter rublic opium shops, In order, as for as possible to deter persons from applying for this privilege, the rice of opium for home smokers is 331/3% higher than that charged in re- tail shops. That is to say, opium, which in the greater part of the country is sold at 15 ticrls per temlung in the re- t-ilers shops, is sold to home smokers at 20 tickis per tem- lung.

A smr11 oless of home smokers ^re those who live or erry on their livelihood so far from an opium shop that they cannot conveniently come to it to smoke. Such persons

ro permitted to have home licenses, but the quantity 110.od to thom is never more than one tamlung per month. Vide linisteri-l hegulations. Clr use 3,

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The netual position now is that 11 home smokers "re rogistered rm licensed nd that these re very for in num- bor. (Vide Annexe VII, Tblo II).

36. When the third set of movisions of the new 107

comes into force ( s... 31) 11 smokers 7111 be regis- terod and their doses limitċd. The position will than FB that (apart from homo smokers who will continue to be very fer in number) 11 registered smokers must obtensteir drily allo^nce from, and smake it in a public/shop from