OPIUM SMOKING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 823, 23 May 1910, Page 2

OPIUM SMOKING.

MORE STRINCENT LAW URCED. VIEWS OF THE HON. G. FOWLDS. AVitli a view of urging that Chinese residents should be prevented from purchasing tincture of opium in order to convert it into a mixture suitable for smoking, a largo deputation waited upon tho Hon. G. Fo'.vlds (Minister lor Customs) on Saturday morning. Sir. "Wright, i11.P., said that tho members of tho deputation wero interested both in tho welfare of the Chinese and the Europeans. He wished at the outset to make it clear that they were not anxious to sec increased immigration of Chinese into tho Dominion. They thought, however, that the law relating to opium was hardly fair to tho Chinese. Amendment was needed whereby the Chinese would be prevented from purchasing tincture of opium from chemists, it appeared that tho Chineso wero able to convert the tincture into a mixture suitable for smoking.

The Kev. J. j. North pointed out that the Chinese Government were making heroic efforts to put down opium smoking. IJuder the present Act tho Chinese could purchase tincture of opium from chemists without practically any questions being asked. Oniy recently a Chinese who had converted tincture of opium into smoking opium was fined £30, whilst tho chemist who sold the tincture got off scot free. Mr. Fowlds: Tho chemist does not break the law b,v selling tincture of opium, but the Chinese does when ho converts it into a smoking mixture. Mr. North: But wo aro informed that there is no legitimate use to which an individual could put a largo quantity of tincture.

Mr. Fowlds: It is well known tliat there are legitimate uses to which it could bo put.

Mr. North said that at Home opium was dispensed only 011 a prescription. Then again, a prescription was not repaated

Mt. Fowlds: As the prescription belongs to the holder, ho need not go to the same chemist for it to bo repeated. Mr. North said that the deputation was of opinion that the chemists ought to bo "muzzled" from selling as at present.

Mr. J.. G. W. Aitken thought it ought to bo mado more difficult for Chinese to. secure tincture of opium. If the applicant for tiie narcotic had-to produce someone of standing when he was making the purchase, sales would bo restricted. Under the present law tho chemist himself could be the witness' of tho sale.

Mr. Paradise stated that Mr. Hwang liatl declared that 20 per cent, of tho Chineso used tincture of opium. _ Mr. Wright a-sked if it were not possible to prohibit tho sale of opium to Chinese.

Mr. Fowlds: If wo differentiated, it might lead to international trouble.

The Minister went 011 to say that ho was thoroughly in sympathy with the efforts which were being made to minimise the evil. In various ways his. Department had been endeavouring to counteract opium smoking, but it had been found to he a difficult matter. Ihcro was, in his opinion, no hardship to a Chinese if he were lined for converting tho tincture into a smoking mixture. To make regulations as strict, as had been suggested tvould mean in most cases that chemists, through inadvertence, might be harassed, and tho chances were that the inuocent ones would suffer most. Thoso who wore legally entitled to have very large quantities of opium in their possession, would bo the most difficult to catch contravening the law. ile might mention that opium was largely used in the manufacture of cough mixture and pills. It seemed that without harassing the life of honest chemists it would! bo impossible to trace what became of the various stocks of opium. He had found that during the last year it was, lawful to import opium 3,3091b. were imported. If tho whole of it had been converted, tho amount of smoking mixture which would he obtained was'only 10001b. Now it was known that more than half of tho total import was legitimately used for purposes other than smoking. Ho recognised that in addition a certain amount of smuggling was done, but it must bo admitted that the officers of tho Department wcro very vigilant.

Mr. Aitkeii: Has the importation of tincture increased since 1901?

Mr. fowlds: I should say it has increased, because more is now used for legitimate purposes. In conclusion, Mr. Fowlds said that lie would again consult witli his officers 011 the subject. He was quite willing to make the sale as restrictive as possible, but it must bo reasonably done. Some amendment of the law would be necessary, for he might mention that a recent decision of tho Supremo Court threw tho onus of proving that tlio opium was not imported bcforo tho Act was passed oil the Department, which was, of course, unreasonable. If any reasonable steps could be taken to prevent Chinese getting opium for the purposes of smoking, something would be done.