L
July 25, 1908.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
OPIUM-PRECEPT AND PRACTICE. | Native opium is stated to have been about |
no remarks"
80 per cent of that grown in 1906.
course
"
55
When the
measures it could not possibly obtain all that in spite of these the fands it needed, the Report complains but on the contrary" the officials persisted that they did not reduce their programme, in carrying out their policy of undue the anticipated expenditure, adhered to armamente" and, in order to provide for the device of public loans, which fually ended
Government. They condemn the Govern- (Daily Press, 22nd July.)
ment for having embarked on As each fascicle of the Customs Reports opium imports in several of these places is for planning an ill-considered scheme for The explanation of the increase in the programme of inordinate dimensions, and a financial for 1907 is published the curiosity of all assumed to be that the more affluent consu who are interested in the attempt made by mers were laying in stocks in anticipation imperative necessity for an amendment of excessive arma ments, and they urge the the Chinese Government to stop the smoking of the establishment of a Government this armament scheme and the exercise of of opium will naturally lead them to look for the remarks the various Commissioners ment of the price. That is the explanation adjustment of the State's outgoings to a monopoly which would lead to an enhance the strictest economy with a view to the have to make regarding the effect of the given at Chingkiang and Opium Edict on the statistical returns also. It was rumoured that a Government indictment we are reminded that after the at Nanking proper and fixed sum of income. In this of the drug at the various ports. We have monopoly office was to be established at before us Vol. II, which deals with the Nauking which was to provide the drug for in the expectations of valuable compensation, war the nation, having been disappointed Yangtze ports, and we cannot say that the information this batch of reports contains became known that the plan could not be economic circles lost their activity until the a large part of the province. When it fell into 8 state of despondency, and will bring much joy or gladness to the carried out, a consignm t of 141 chests of Government announced its intention of heart of the reformer. Taking the port of Malwa opium was not landed at Nanking carrying Icháng as coming first in the series, there is but returned to Shanghai. At Chingkiang
out post-bellum here little or no demand for the foreign the rumour had the effect of causing whole- The Government, utilising the fever of enterprises in conformity with a positive" policy." drug only 120 piculs being imported in sale dealers to part with their stocks at en terprise that then arose among the people, 1907, and 2:40 in 1906, and the whole of reduced prices, and they thus missed the and taking advantage of the momentum of this was re-exported. But when we turn to "handsome profits the native opium statistics we see that, not-made later when the rumour proved to programme of finance, converted into ordin- that Were to be a victorious war, framed a largely extended withstanding attempts made to restrict the be premature. But in spite of the un- use made of native opium, the returns, in promising character of the statistics there levied on account of the war, and in addition ary taxes the extraordinary special imposts which the drug appears as an export, are just doubled, the increase amounting to
are not wanting evidences that the move. to the State monopolies of tobacco, salt and over 4,000 picals. Coming next to the port districts is
ment against opium smoking in many camphor, carried out "the precipitate of Shasi, the Commissioner reports that missioner at Nanking says he has been largely extending the sphere of State a popular one. The Com measure of railway nationalisation," thus opium, always a small commodity in the told that the number of old smokers has enterprises and doing everything in its Shasi returns, shows an increase for the year lessened considerably. of 11 picule more than the highest import- younger generation is almost free from things" the Report says
Moreover, the power to increase the revenue. In all these ation of the previous five years, namely 78 the babit, and the consumption of opium the reason for the unfortunate times that is to be found piculs against 67 piculs in 1904. The will nearly or altogether cease during the have now overtaken economic circles, from Commissioners at Yochow and Hankow have next generation in this part of China." the stock market downwards." to make on the subject. At The Commissioner at Ichang, who regards Government saw Kiukiang 1,836 piculs of Malwa valued at the measures taken to suppress opium Hk. Tls. 1,121,000 were imported, as against smoking as too abrupt, and thinks a better 1,435 piculs valued at Tls. 925,000 in 1906. Of Patna, 37 piculs, valued at Tls. 18,000 increase the duty and likin on opium until would have been to annually were imported, an increase of 13 piculs and people could not afford to indulge in the Tis. 4,000 over the figures for 1906. It is pipe, observes, however, that not only are mentioned that the price of Malwa decreased the officials strongly against the drug, but 5 per cent per picul and Patna about 17 per the people generally appe r to have risen up cent, but the Commissioner does not suggest against its use and to have lent their that there is any relationship between the support to stop the evil. decline in price and the increase in the ever, that the people may take up with a
He fears how import. Of native opium he remarks that formerly little or noue passed through the cigareties." According to the Commis.
worse evil such as "bad gin,
or "bad Customs, but in the latter half of 1906 sioner, when the differential duty in favour of junk such 1rg quantities may be safely said to many of the cigarettes now sold in borne opium was abolishel, 495 piculs of be as poisonous, if not more so thau opium Szechuen opium, valued at Tls 102,000 itself.' arrived by steamer from Ichang. In 1907 purpose has been simply to point out that But that is another story. Our the quantities similarly imported largely coincidentally with all the talk about the increased, the importation being 5,295 piculs suppression of opium smoking, the returns valued at Tls. 1,241,000. About 1,060 for last year, at least, scem to show a rather picule of native opium, value Tls. 465,000, substantial increase in the import of both were sent away, chiefly to Wuhu and native and foreign opium at the Customs Shanghai. At Wubu the import of stations in the Yangtze region, foreign opium was 2,427 picula, being an increase of fifty per
cent. оп the 1906 figures, and the largest im- portation since 1900.
But the Acting Commissioner of Customs adds that this increase does not necessarily imply that a
(Daily Press, July 23rd.) larger quantity of opium was actually cou-
BARON KOMURA, the Japanese Ambassa- sumed; "it seems to indicate that, owing dor to London, is telegraphically reported to to cheaper prices, the native drug was to have stated at a luncheon that the change some extent replaced by Indian opium."
of Government in Japan does not mean a Unfortunately the statistical tables at the break in the continuity of Japan's policy end of the report do not enable one to make and that Japan will continue to devote her a comparison of the import of native opium energies to the improvement of her internal with previous years, and we may merely note
resources. In the light of the information that the quantity reported by the native contained in the Japan papers these two Opium Office as passing through their hands statements are rather difficult to reconcile. last Chinese year was 1,410 piculs of which
What is Japan's policy? 1,121 were imported through the Maritime men of the country view it, the policy of the Customs. Coming now to Nauking, we
late Government has no tended t. the find the statistics showing an increase of improvement of the country's intern 171 picals in the import of Malwa, a
resources, but has definitely checked their decrease of 151 piculs in Pana, and an healthy development. The United Cham- increase in Schézuen and Yunnan opium bers of Commerce in Japan have recently from 24 piculs in 1906 to 125 piculs in 1907. endorsed a report prepared by a Special Finally we come to Chinkiang where the Committee which sets out with perspi- import of Malwa rose from 2,452 piculs incuity and frankness the grievances the 1806 to 8,264 piculs in 1907, but the crop of business men of the country have against the
<
"1
THE CABINET CRISIS IN JAPAN.
As the business
io failure and imp.ired the country's credit in foreiga imarkets. Than the Government proceeded to increase the among the people. This, together with the taxes, causing considerable rescutm nt
further money a roal, produced a su iden news of the ailure of eut të obtain change in business circles; shares fell altitude, sua ply, the banks adopted a conservative
condition, and the general tendency, to say finauce died into a critical nothing of the question of fluctuati ne in the share market, was in the direction of a panicky feeling. The Report proceeds : -~
In spite of those circumstances the Govern men!, experiencing difficulty in maintaining its finances, issued treasury bilis in excess, and thus contributed to the depreciation of negotiable securities. Then at the close of 19No7, it suddenly raised the price of tobacco, and persisting in its policy, compiled a grossly unsuitable budget for the fiscal year 1908-9, which included a soheme of new taxes to cover the deficiency of income. The passing of this and thereafter, at the close of March, in measure deepened the distress in business oirales,
the latter's hopes, the Government adopted a opposition to its pledges to the nation and to wrong system for repaying the first War Loan, having recourse to competitive discount, and thus making plain the fact that it desired in every possible way to avoid paying out ready money. The consequence was that a greatly augmented evil affect was produced upon the market for securities, and finally the existing situation was reached,
Baron Komura is supporte apparently by of Government which has taken place does Prince Iro in his statement that the change
Japanese policy. If that is so the reasons not mean a break in the continuity of the for the change are not very obvious. The ostensible reason is the ill-health of Marquis SAIONJI, lever, regards the change as marking Public opinion in Japan, how
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