THE OPIUM CURSE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 38, 10 March 1909, Page 4

THE OPIUM CURSE.

CHIXESE CONSUL'S VIISWS. [ OPIUM MUST BE PROHIBITED. Some reference to the movement fo"' the suppression of the opium traffic in , Chinn was made by Mr Hung Hang Hwang, the Consul-General for China, in a speech at the Methodist Conferojii:' missionary meeting. He said that China was grateful for the feeling which prompted people of oi'der races to try aad put an end to the traffic, but for all that, China felt that she had to do the work herself. She touhl not call upon outv.de aid, and she was now quite determined to put nn end to the busfacss in 20 years. Strong measures had already been taken for this "purpose. Some of the high olfieials had been removed and others had been degraded for taking part in the traffic. Opium shops had been closed in many places, and steps had been taken to stop the cultivation of the opium poppy—the crops in certain districts having being destroyed, Prom the way in which the regulations on these matters were being carried out, lie had reason to hope that the opium curse f would bo wiped out in the Chinese Empire before very many years. (Applause.) In fact, China was doing all she could to put the traffic down by force, but lie aad others felt that physical force was nol sufficient. What was wanted wan spiritual force, a much more important agent. Thev needed to try and teach the people to put an end to the traffic by this means, and to impress upon them the aim and curse of the trade. If this could only be conveyed by spiritual force, the strength with which the trade would be put down would be very much greater than when the force was exerted simply by the Government. He was glad to be able to say that the missionaries in China were co-operating in this great movement, so that both spiriritual and physical forces were going forward in company in the effort to put the curse of the traffic down. His faith wn» very strong that the movement would go ou with very great success. (Applause.)