CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 660

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The calling into oxist.no. of restriction

that it would

aruns with a lionco-system was found d on the idea bo no rly possible to corpul a rilativly 1 rge numb.r of opium-

It was therefore smokors sudlunly to stop using opium untinly. considered butter to purmit those who wore already nccustomed to the rug, to continu. to us. it, but to prevent the enslaving of othors to the drug. The quantities allowed to each of the smokers were fixed according to those which they rogularly used and 1,50 their incom.s. The Incrunge of quantities already fixed, is only

After a certain period, usually permitted in exceptional ongos,

6 months after the licunco-system has como into operation, no now permits aru issued. In very exceptional circumstances, when this Tould give rise to ne.dless sovority, can the Government permit further new licencos to bo issued.

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

In order to detect the breach of the restric- tive laws more easily, exclusively opium, the paoking of which has a distinctive mark, is sold in a number of restriction-areas with licence-systers, 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 Banke and attached territories for all users of opium. According to the conditions thereof, it was at first still possible that new licences be issued to contract labourers working in the Banke tin-mines, who had been contracted outside the residency. This however is no longer done since 1st, September 1917, so that the number of licences automatically dimi- nishes,

And even if no further steps were taken, the use ɗ 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, so that already for a considerable period there are no labourers engaged on the construction who legally use opium.

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