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Hokitika Guardian, 8 August 1922, Page 2

The deputation from the Navy League waiting on the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, at Wellington, last week, urged that this Dominion must support tlfe Imperial Navy, paying its share in return for its important service. The principle has been admitted. and is living acted upon. Whereas for many years during peace we paid nothing for the protection by sea of a volume of trade aggregating more than the national debt of Great Britain, we are now paying £346,000 a year. It is some years since we began to contribute, according to our means, and in the interval we presented a Dreadnought to the Navy. 'Die argumontment is used that to take gifts without adequate return is shabby. True enough; but let it be realised that the benefit conferred was not all to our side. British capital was being invested all those years in developing New Zealand and while New Zealand paid the interest, the British Navy guaranteed the security. This great fact has never been recognised in the pronagandn of the Navy champions, who in. variably speak of this country in terms one would confine to reckless paupers without hope in their minds or capacity in their hands. Let them remember also the tremendous personal service done in the war, and let them try to find a value for that in the contra side of the account. The Prime Minister admitted the principle advanced by the League; of course, for it's in practice. Ho declined the huge demand, which only fatuity could put forward at such a crisis in our affairs. Marching on a distraught Treasurer, buried under millions, w ith a stern demand for two millions a year. It is amazing that such a tiling wn s possible.

Kkovi.ations forbidding the importation and restricting the sale of opium were published in the “Gazette” last week. For the purpose of the Opium Act, and its amendments the following articles nre declared to ho opium in a form, which, though not suitable for smoking may yet be made suitable for smoking: —Opium crude, opium powder, solid extract of opium, opium in mixture with other substances (if such mixture may be made suitable for smoking. No person shall import into New Zealand opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine, codein, or eegonine without a permit from the Minister, applied for in writing through the Comptroller of Customs. Every importer desiring to import any dangerous drugs (i.o. opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine, codeine, or eegonine) shall, before ordering the same, make application to the Comptroller of Customs for a certificate of approval, satisfying him that the importation of the said drugs is lawful that they are required for legitimate purposes, and that any medicinal opium will he used solely for medicinal or scientific purposes. A permit is also required for exportation of the same

dangerous drugs, to be issued by the Minister. On March 31st and Sept. 30th in each year every importer is required to take stock of the dangerous drugs in his possession and balance his dangerous drugs hook, in which all importations are to be shown. The penalty for breach of the regulations is fixed at £SO, and forfeiture of any dangerous drugs in the possssion of the offender. The general clause provides that no person other than an importer shall during any period of seven days, sell opium in larger quantities in the aggregate than one fluid ounce in a form not containing more dry extractive matter than 6 per cent., when evaporated for two hours in a stea m hath, or twenty grains in any other form.