CHINA AND THE OPIUM TRAFFIC.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 27, 8 September 1911, Page 18

CHINA AND THE OPIUM TRAFFIC.

Any lingering doubts that might have remained in prejudiced minds of the sincerity and thoroughness of China's efforts to eradicate the poppy plant should be removed by the longexpected report of Sir Alexander Hosie which has just been published as a Foreign Office White Paper. It was already known that China had reduced her home production 60 to 70 per cent, during the three- years since the issue of the anti-opium edict. Sir A. Hosie , s report confirms the belief that the poppy will have entirely disappeared from Chinese soil within two years. In that event, the export from India will, by virtue of the new treaty, cease automatically within the same period. Meantime, the Chinese are preparing another petition against the traffic, to be presented before The Hague Conference, in, July next. It will be an immense picture appeal. Hundreds of Chinese from the different provinces arc sending in their photographs, with a written appeal on the picture for freedom from the opium treaties, so that China may entirely stop the opium trade this year. Men, women, aim! children, whole families, schools, railroad and telegraph officials—m fact, all classes —are joining in this moral expression of their desire to have their land free from opium.— ''Christian Herald," Christchurch.