THE OPIUM GOD.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1923, Page 3

THE OPIUM GOD.

GREAT HOLD IN CHINA. [“The Times" Seiivk'k.J (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON. April 5. Tho “Times’’ I’ekitt correspondent states China is in the grip of the great God, opium. Poppy fields flourish throughout the country and ellorls to suppress its cultivation are proving abortive. Foreign and Chinese opinions now endorse tho deliberate conclusion reached by Sir Francis Aglen, inspee-tor-Gencral of .Maritime Customs, that China will eventually be obliged to legalise the trade in order to secure some degree of restriction t.l trulin', and the enormous profits which arc deiiieralising all concerned. Huge areas ol the provinces are given over to the cultivation of the poppy and I uehtin s penalise farmers who neglect to plant it. They extract revenues to support armies, by trafficking and running licensed houses for opium smoking. Officials throughout the country are corrupted and connive at the illicit business. Rewards offered by the ( u-turn-officials for the detection of opium ate inflated to such an extent that the staffs are demoralised, while the ttal(ickers attempt to outbid the authoiitics with enormous bribes. One littndred thousand dollars were tillered to Port officials to pass a quantity of heroin. The Customs last year seized forty tons of illicit opium which was a ridiculously infinitesimal percentage of the amount smuggled. Frequently the Customs men are terrorised into acquiescence. Immense quantities ate available and have eaused‘prices to be lowered, so that coolies are able to indulge. Many old style officials unoke openly and the troops tire heavily addicted to the habit. Public opinion is indifferent, though it is believed cigarette smoking diminishes the craving for opium. The eradication of the use of the drug is regarded ns hopeless.