CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 625

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623

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an abnormal one.

25. The year B.E. 2462 (1919-20) The very high prices obtained for rice put plenty of money into the rockets of all persons conncoted with the trɛđe,

The Chinemen's usual meth- including middlemen and coolics.

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 Europeans muet and pa take of alcohol. The result of this state of affairs as a consid- crabe increase in opium smoking, both in licensed promises end illicitly. The illicit consumers were well-to-do young Chinese who disliked ontering opium duns, and they paid great- ly enhanced cricus to the retailers for the drug to be sold outside the opium shops, The proof required/conviction under the old la's wrs difficult to obta n, and the penalties light. Morcover,

rsons und r foreign jurisdiction sometimes posed

as the owners of the places there the illicit sale and smok- ing of opium vero carried on, and this added to the difficul- ties of reiding such claves, Neverthol cas, the illicit ex- rort of orium fell off for various rersons. such as:-

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

(2) The ready sale of ocium in the country at enhanced prices.

(3) The lessened demand from China where opium was pain being produced, notably in Szechuen Rovince.

9-

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

con-

26.

In the present year B.E. 2463 (1920-21) the ditions have been the opposite of those of the prededing one,

s the rice crop of the crevious season was a fellure and the export of rice has been totally prohibited during the greater part of the year. The conséquent stagnation of trade was at once reflected in the sales of opium, and it is ex- pected that the reduction in seles as compared with the pre- vious twelve monthly period, will be in the neighbourhood of 157, This diminution has afforded an excellent opportunity for Judging the amount of opium ordinarily consumed by per- sons not really dicted to the drug, and in certain Pro- vinces the quantities llowed to retailers, for sale, have been restricted.