RESTRICTING OPIUM TRAFFIC.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 August 1928, Page 2

RESTRICTING OPIUM TRAFFIC.

BRITAIN AMENDS LAW

British Official Wireless

RUGBY, Aug. 18

Tlie International Opium Convention signed at Geneva in February. 1925, having now received the requisite number of ratifications, an Order-in-Coun-eil lias been issued stating that the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1925, which amended the law to enable ellccc to be givgn to the Convention, will come into operation on 25th September. The chief alterations made will bean extension ui: control to Indian hemp and the res'.n obtained from it, namely, hashish, and any extract of tincture of Indian hemp and to preparations containing less than one-tenth per cent, of diaethyl morphine —heroin mash which up to 'now have been exempted. After 25th September a license will be required Cor importing or exporting any of those drugs. Appeal to League.

The British Government, hr-., place'll upon the agenda for the tort h'-uining Council meeting of the fa-agm- id Nations a proposal For the appointment of a Prague Commission la inquire into (In- pr-'scnl p.i.-ilinn regarding th-- n e of opium and (he present, i iu-(| < • i-1 u.i I elfdins in': lie to 111 ’< -< -M t tin- e i I':i i'■ I g of opium in the Far Pa t The .ground For the propo a 1 i.- 1 hnl all the'i-lTorts that lira- a Far been made as a m .-nit of the decision,-., i.F tlie 11111- in ;i 1i > 111 :i IDp inn Convention of l;il2 anil of tin- Opium Conferences ol T.)2! and 1925, have been largely rendered of no avail owing to the enormous a moil nl of smuggling. This has reached such proportions that Governments tire, finding it difficult to implement their promises made at the first Opium Conference to suppress the consumption of prepared opium within’a period of 15 years. Smuggling is Rife.

Tlio growth of the opium poppy m China has h'.l to great smuggling aHivitv, and it is the desire ol the Bullish Govern meat that League experts should make an inquiry on the spot to see what further measures can be taken to control the whole trade and thus gradually carry out the desire of signatories of the agreement that within a given period of years, by means of gradual suppression, the use ol opium, or, at all events, the legal use of opium, shall bo entirely stopped. ' Smuggling is at present the principal obstacle in the way and it is with the object of studying this and the means of stopping i.t that a Commission of Inquiry is asked for. The other Governments- with tern lories in the Far Fast have replied supporting the British proposal.