AGAINST OPIUM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 531, 11 June 1909, Page 11

AGAINST OPIUM.

Captain H. Sv Blackbnrne, hon, secretary of the Now Zealand Anti-Opinm Association, writes:— ' '/.!. '...' ,■■-:... ;,.-; ■■ : : The'following short article, was lately, sent 'to me by Miss D. L. Woolmcr, and ,i: shall be glad if you catt; find spu.cs in yonr valuable paper to publish it:— ■'..■•'■.;".■<; ■ ; ~' 1 .''The',:fifty'.-years' :war against the'.'opium 'traffic gathers.force in the) Old Country. Hope of victory has been-long deferred, but heart sickness'is■;»••'.weakness strenuously resisted.. allies,in the of New Zealand-bids .veterans at Home to be'of good ch;eer, Tbb vigorous- resolution adopted at the third annual meeting of ,the New Zealand Ahti-Opiun) : Sooiety' has : been republished in 'Britain's Opium Harvest.' (Since- its'appearance,' the recommendations .of the Shanghai Commission; have, been made known. The first calls for hearty congratulation. Twelve nations acknowledge, the Unswerving sincerity of China in suppressing both - the cultivation of, the' poppy and the habit of. opium smoking. .'One argument, therefore, in. favour of England maintaining the Indo-Chinese opium traffic vanishes into thin air.: Victory has not'been yet achieved. The Treaty of Tientsin, still stands. To quote.: C. G. Sperham, .'.we must Continue to ' press';upon Government the .necessity of annulling the opium clauses in the Treaty of Tientsin, as well as the Chefoo.Convention, and .to venter'into' a new : treaty by which Great Britain shall bind herself to such a policy :0f restriction as shall bring the opium trado to an end as speedily as possible."' r ' ;I would like fo.'draw the. attention.of your readers to the fact that an opiiim traffic, protest'fund, has been started in England by.the, Kev, Eric. Eewis, 08'Alumhurst Road, .Bournemouth. West. .The primary, aim of the fund is to.express our..shame and'sorrow at the continuance far.a Steele day of this national sin,, which" we have thrice, confessed, and to express, onr earnest desire as Christians that .Cheat.-Britain should, abandon it at. once, at whatever necessary cost to horself.'. Donations for the purpose may-be pent'to.tlio Eev. Eric Lewis, or if more convenient may be,sent to me. andl .will gladly acknowledge receipt ard forward .amounts!to Mr. lewii.-rl am, etc.,.'. .. h.'s-'blackbubne, '.'••' Hon. See., N;Z. Anti-Opium Association.