Chinese Fight against Opium.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 31 March 1910, Page 4

Chinese Fight against Opium.

OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE S._-J)-ILY DROPPING USE OF THE DRUG.

Slow but certain-progress is being ma do by tlie Chinese Government in its crusade against poppey cultivation and the use of opium in China. In a further report on the subject drawn up by Mr Max Muller, Councillor to the British Legation at Pekin, niul included in despatches from the British Minister just published by the foreign Oflice, it is stated that there has undoubted]}' beeoi a very sensible diminution in consumption and cultivation since the initiation of the movement three years ago. Moreover a public opinion has been formed which will greatly strengthen the hands of the Government and the provincial authorities ini the drastic measures Which they contemplate taking in the near future. Total prohibition within « measurable time is undoubtedly the policy which finds favour at the moment, and considering the conditions of the country and the difficulty in verifying the progress of "radual reduction, it is perhaps the best method of dealing with the problem. That the end, however, is so near as many of the official pronouncements would seem to indicate is, it is- said, very doubtful. In a covering despatch, Sir J. Jordan states that full and reliable information has been obtained about two only of the provinces—Shaiisi and Yuiiiufli, and that in -oth much good work has been done. At the opposite extreme stand Shensi, Kansii, Htipei, and Szechuan, in all of which comparatively little has been accomplished to cluck either the consumption or cultivation of the drug. » "The lnst-nam. province, wliicn is by far the largest prfduciii"' area in the Empire, will furnish the supreme test of the success or failure . of the programme of total prohibition, and as the order has gone forth that no poppey is to bo sown this autumn the issue o.n much depends is doubtless now being fought out." ...i- Muller, who deals with the position in each province, gives someinteresting information in regard to the progress made in Pekin. For this he is indebted to ftr Gray, the physician of the- British Legation, who is also in charge of a_ hospital where large numbers of Chinese addicted to' the drug are treated. About eight-tenths of the officials aind three-tenths of the people have stopped smoking. The former, however, being subject to periodical examination, often stop for a sbort time, and then relapse into their ol:l

ways. Among tlio officers of the army the habit, lms been entirely abandoned. Tt is now very difficult to purchase opium in Pekin illicitly. Tn« shops are licensed, jmh] the purchaser must bo provided with a licence. The licence ticket ccsts ten cents, and is available for three months. After that period the lice-nee has to be renewed, and at each renewal the daily amount purchasable is reduced. l.pium fleas nro, of course, forbidden, but a con? id era bio number are still op'.'ii claiidostiuely-tH>r-hnps about hal. as many as were open eighteen months ago. Ihe price of'opium has increased gently, in the case of foreign opnini l).v />» ptM- cent; wile the price of nature opium, which comes chiefly from Shansi and • Kausu, has doubled. Opium pipes »'■« cliHioiilt to obtain openly,■ though they can still be bought secretly. Unfortunately a threat deal ol opium is now consumed in the form nf anti-opium pills. After a lar-e number of inquiries extending over a period of several months l)r bray places thp number of habitual antiopiuin pill takers at between miehalf and three-quarters of the torMier tot.il of opium smokers. Inis means that the manner of taking nnium ha smerely boen changed out iVrtunately for a less baneful torm -that is to say. a man can satisfy his narcotic craving in a way that dees not stupefy him, sap his energies, or curtail his working hours.