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Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7812, 3 June 1909, Page 4

" The opium habit is one of the greatest difficulties that have to be faced m China," said the Rev. T. 11. Kearney, a missionary from Ichang, who is just now m Dunedin on leave. Ichang is a town a thousand miles inland m the Yangtze Valley, just at the limit of river steamer navigation, and through it passes on its way to the coast much of the produce of the interior. "I think that on the opium question there are a great many misconceptions," he added, " and there are many things about the traffic that are not generally known—not known, m fact, by anyone who does, not know something of the inner history of China. The greater part of the opium consumed m China is of Chinese growth. It is a common orror to suppose that all, or a great part of it, comes from India. I do not believe that one-tenth comes from India. Situated as we are on the river, we have ample opportunity of seemg' something of the native trade -m this matter. Opium is grown m Western China m abundance, and we see it, m great numbers of boxes, passing through Ichang, on' its way to other parts "of India." i