The Government are at present erecting 2 very large laboratory fitted out with all modermt appliances and machinery for the pre-aration of opium. It does not appear, as has sometimes been reported, that the opium tax is to be considered asia Government source of revenue, but that the income from the tax and sale of opium shall be sufficient to cover the Government expenses incurred in controlling the purchasing, manuficturi and sale. So far the Government expen' tures connected with the drug have been greater than the income. It is the desire of the Government first to obtain the complete contro! of the drug throughout the Chinese portion of the island and to restrict its sale by issuing licences only to those addicted to its use. It is hoped in this way that the next generation will to s large extent be freed from the opium habit. It hus been suggested that the Government gradually increase the price, thus decreasing would only be ug of opium, is et, would be prevalent and, with the lengthy coast-line, would be difficult to prevent: That opium essential to the life Ith of Chinese in the is appear to ye been proved. The Hakkas, the strong: est arid healthiest of all Chinese in the island, are rarely opium-smokers and while it would no doubt create great isorde the island to prohibit the sima toall, it is hoped that the Gov endeavour to decrease the cui by every peaceful means possible, Tamsui, 20th November.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.