CEYLON AND THE OPIUM TRAFFIC.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 14 September 1908, Page 1

CEYLON AND THE OPIUM TRAFFIC.

A Parliamentary White Paper relating to the consumption of opium in Ceylon has just been issued by Government. It owes its existence to a question asked in Parliament on April 15th, 1907, by Dr. Rutherford, M.P. He stated in preface that the Sinhalese people had not grown the poppy in Ceylon nor used opium under their native kings, nor under Portuguese or Dutch rule, nor until the middle of last century, when the British Government established licensed opium shops for the sale of opium in towns and villages, and he inquired whether seeing that the importation of opium had increased from 1000 lbs in 1850 to 20,000 lbs in 1905, and that the Buddhist High Priest, Sumangala, and I the Sinhalese representative on the Legislative Council, Mr Obeyesekere, had appealed to the Government to close the licensed opium shops, H.M. Government j would take steps to suppress the opium traffic in Ceylon. Lord Elgin, then Secretary of State, transmitted this question to the Governor of Ceylon on April 25th, 1907, with a letter which, short as it is, deserves a place tjl honour in historical records. After a concise summary of three distinct inquiries into the subject of opium in Ceylon since 1893 — inquiries without any effectual results — Lord Elgin concludes : "In spite of all the correspondence that has passed, I do not see how the introduction of ever-increasing quantities of opium into Ceylon is to be defended, and I regret that I must ask for further inquiry and report. I would suggest that , another Committee should be appointed to take evidence and make recommendations ; or I am prepared to consider any otlier course which you may be able to recommend as likely to minimise, and evi-ntually prevent, except for medical purposes, the consumption of opium in Ceylon." The Colonial Secretary appointed a Cummittee with Sir Allen Perry, Principal Medical Officer, as Chairman, and thoy proceeded tr_ mako a thorough investigation. For administrative purposes, the island is divided into nine provinces with a Government Agont, holding the title of Headman, in charge of each one. To the nine Headmen, to all medical officers, and to competent members of the geh-eral community the following questions were submitted :— 1. Have you any knowledge of persons who habitually take opium ? 3. Has the habit produced bad results, good results, or no results, in the physical, mental, moral, and social condition of the opium-takers? 3. Have you any acquaitancc with the working of village opium shops? 4. Do the keepers of village opium shops, in your opinion, spread the opium habit by inducing customers to buy the drug ? 5. Havo you any knowledge of domestic servants or coolies becoming addicted to the opium habit? 6. To your knowledge, is the habit of taking opium increasing or spreading to any extent in your district? The nine Headmen all unhesitatingly declare that they have knowledge of opium victims, that the effects of the habit are absolutely bad and that it is increasing. One of them, Mr A. Bissanaika, Mudaliyar, late president of Salpiti Korale, whose experience covers 30 years, says regarding opium in Ceylon that : — "The ravages it is making in men, women, and boys are striking. About 50 years ago, there were about 500 men who used, but now the number has increased tenfold, and in some places fifteen-fold." Others support these statements, affirming that the habit is "perni; cious," "increasing at a fearful extent," and "that the sooner it is checked the better for mind, body, and soul." One - gives an instanco within his own experience of the sudden death of a man in apparently robust health, from taking opium. Out of 38 medical officers, 13 emphatically condemn tho opium habit in Ceylon as "bad." Five only give evidenco in its favour ; the rest maintain more or less a neutral ground, some alleging that their recent appointment or limited experience makes them unable to pronounce an opinion. The medical officer of the convict establishment declares the habit to be increasing, and th? results to be "bad in every respect." Others are convinced that it causes "social ruin." and "mental, moral, and physical degeneration." Mr P. D. S. dr? Silva, Mihintali, writes that most (if the opium i eaters whom he has known "become idle loafers about the cpium-shops. Physically they becomo unfit for hard work." Members of the general community give instances of the death and ruin within the circle of their own experience, caused by the opium habit. "In the village of Hanwella," Mr W. R. Peacock, of Colombo, says, "I interviewed about 30 victims, who all deplored their slavery to tho habit. Their condition was pitiful in the extreme." Others denounce it as a "curse which is spreading rapidly." Mr W. H. Solomon, 8.A., of Calcutta, Proctor, District High Court, Anuradhapura, knows of the illicit sale of opium carried on by a rich Tamil, and gives of an instance of a young Sinhalese formerly in his employ who became a ' victim of opium. He remarks: "It entirely spoilt a promising career." Besides taking the evidence of practical and experienced men who are in a position to judge of the present condition of their districts, the Committee have examined the past history of opium in Ceylon. This is compartively easy, as the ; I first opium shop discovered in the island only mado its appearance in 1850. During the past half-century, the ill weed, the opium traffic, has grown apace. Owing to the introduction of special legislation and in connection with the issue of licenses to opium shops, the drug has been tacitly, though not specifically excepted from tho operation of the Poisons Ordinance. The evil results were so alarming that in December, 1893, at a largo public meeting held in Colombo, attended by representatives of all classes and races, a memorial to the Legislative , : r