ANTI-OPIUM LEAGUE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIV, Issue 12258, 30 July 1900, Page 6

ANTI-OPIUM LEAGUE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I beg to enclose a copy of petition against the opium evil in this colony, which petition will be presented to Parliament at an early date. The petition is signed by about 600 Chinese, fesident in different parts' of the ookmy,. the majority, of whom arev either directly engaged in the opium or are opium smokers themselves.. > That thei opium habit is disastrous ih|;the extreme/to.; those who become infatuated with it, no ; one can deny. Many of tihe:Chinese are already its victims, and it is'.a'fact tha* its! ravages are extending to//the//European,; youths of the colony; hfence all must agree'j that strenuous efforts should be, made in | order to stamp out such an evil. Should; space permit, you would greatly oblige my reviewing the petition.—l'; am, etc., YOUNG HEE, Hon Secretary, Anti-Opium League. Greymouth, July. 24, 1900. . (Enclosure.)

The humble petition of the undersigned, Chinese residents in the colony, of New Zea-, land, sheweth: (1) That for some years past, the importation of opium into/this colony lhas increased, and is still increasing. (2) That the Chinese .population"in this colony has decreased in the' same period. (3) That the opium so imported' is used principally by the Chinese for smoking. (4) Thfyt the habit •of opium smoking! has increased amongst the Chinese population', and is extending to the European, youths of .the colony. (5) That opiumsinokiiig is most injurious, harmful and de-: grading both morally and physically to those: who indulge in-it, and renders such persons unfit for the ordinary duties of life. (6) That the opium habit is very easily acquired, and every means should be taken to prevent its acquirement. (7) That some of ibe Chinese residtots in this colony, seeing the evils arising from use of opium by, their counrtirymen, so far back as in tihe yeair 1888 A.D., , endeavoured to prevent its use, and are still continuing their endeavours, but up to the time, ing to want of legislation on'the subject; have failed 1 in their efforts. Your 'petition: ers therefore humbly pray that your honourable House will pass an Act prohibiting or limiting the importation of opium, and controlling the use and sale thereof, oij such other measure in the premises as t 6; your honourable House, shall seem fit And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.-. ••■■ " v '•;■■■- •■■'.- ';.■■. /