Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1901. OPIUM DEBAUCHERY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 October 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1901. OPIUM DEBAUCHERY.

No matter what may be our respective opinions as to the desirability of Chinese residents among us, it is an obvious fact that we should strive to protect and elevate the race that our Legislature has made lawful to enter our country. The Chinese may have habits and tastes that are repulsive to our way of living ; they may show a degeneracy that contrasts strongly with the development and enlightenment of our colonial life, but no one will deny that stripped of his wretched appendages, he may be trained to evolve into a citizen of no mean degree. It is not our purpose to discuss whether the Chinese are desirab'e immigrants ; possibly they are not, but seeing they are among us, the common ties of humanity demand they’should receive our protection and guidance from the evils, for which they form willing subjects. Foremost among the evils in our midst is the opium habit. The ravages of this agent are so perceptible in our Chinese quarters that no one can deny the necessity for reformation among them. It is, therefore, pleasing to know that the Government have introduced a bill that will lead to the suppression of the sale of opium. The measure, we are told, “ proposes to make it unlawful to import opium in a form suitable for smoking, the penalty for a breach of the Act being fixed at £100; and a permit must be obtained from the Customs to import opium in any form which, though not suitable for smoking, may be made suitable. The manufacture of opium in the colony for smoking is prohibited, and the smoking of opium is also made an offence.”

It will be seen by the above that the bill will be most stringent, Perhaps the motive that has prompted the measure is the rapidity with which the opium habit is spreading among Europeans, and threatens to become a great public evil, so that it is necessary to take effectual means to prevent its growth. We all know how the wretched habit has been introduced. Through the Chinese it has been brought here, but upon sober reflection every Britisher is ashamed of the flagrant crime that our own dominance has inflicted upon the Chinese nation. Scarcely more than a hundred years ago opium was first introduced into China, and since then her people have become demoralised through the wretched innovation. A high official of Soochon writes:— “ From ancient times to the present day, there has never been such a stream of evil and misery as has come down to China in her receiving the curse of opium.” In our own <;own

the results of the habit are most easily recognised not only among the Chinese but, we fear, encroachments have been made upon the health of Europeans by their love for opium, The Chinese look delapidated and diseased. So powerful is this narcotic that its influence soon hastens the strongest into decrepitude and ill-health. Whilst we have the Chinese with us it is imperative that we strive to minimise the evil attached to opium and strive to assist in the suppression of the habit and place its devotees in a higher platfjrm of living till they attain a standard that will make them more desirable as residents in the community.