DRUG TRAFFIC EVILS

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19459, 26 December 1934, Page 10

DRUG TRAFFIC EVILS

VAST CHINESE CAMPAIGN. EXECUTIONS IN PEKING. “Kill and .cure” i.s apparently the motto of the. Chinese Government in •ihe vast campaign which it has launched'for the 'suppression of the drug traffic, writes Mr Ronald Woo'll'rcv.

The death penalty is considered no more Ilian the 'deserts of those who, for ihe -sake of fabulous profits, deliberately foster a craving for “dope" among others. Thus, within a few weeks, three executions have taken place on Ihe Bridge of Heaven at Peking. Two of flic sentenced criminals were police officials who had deliberately abused their public .position for Iho sake of private' gain. It is arguable that pity fe out of place in dealing with .scoundrels who never spare a thought for the misery, Ihe social havoc and the .moral and physical degradation which their foul Bade inllic Is upon millions. But ■lheir victims come in a different .category. Wore if 'desirable, if would he a tremendous task to punish flic folly of lIIc 70,00(1 drug addicts in, >say, Peking alone. The Chinese authorities 'have wisely •decided to cure as many of them a.s .possible. Treatment of Addicts. _ The establishment of Ihe first municipal e.enlre for Ihe Irealment of drug addicts in Peking is an event woiThy of being re. , orded along with the establishment of model hospitals amt field health stations in oilier purls of China, which is hein« r carried out with the assistance of the Longue of Nations. According to available information, about 800 patients can lie treated at one lime. For obvious reason's a heavy police guard has been insliluled. •If is to be hoped that ibis praiseworthy experiment will meet, with a. beller fate Mi at another recorded in the report of Ihe League’s commission of inquiry into opium-smoking 'in the East. The authorities of a certain ferritory in Ihe .Malay Archipelago were agireeably surprised at Ihe apparent popularity of a new hospital which •they opened for the 'lrealment of drug addl'ts. Patients Hocked along in their 'hundreds. But I heir zeal for being .cured lasted only as long as Ihe economic depression. While conditions were bad'. I'"”- were perfectly willing lo be fed and eared for at the Government expense l . As soon; however, as economic eomtilions improved, Ihe drug addicts g.-rilv departed to relapse in I o Iheir old tiajiils. 11, is ex!cell'd llial the Chinese authorities will bear this lesson in mind.