To the Editor of the "Nonrs-Cunva Darcy Nei Sin,—I image one of the most impo cussed at the forthcoming Ratepayers' Meeting, and desire to present a few pointe for the consideration of Ratepayers with a view to the total extinct tion of the opium dens immediately. There are moral and sentimental reasons why the trade should be abolished. I do not go into these questions at the moment, but advance a few sy suggestions as ® contribution to the solution of the problem.
With many the loss of revenue to the tane of Tls. 60,000 will weigh as 0 serious argument against the about on of the opium dens. Too much weight should not be given to this argument. In the frst place a considerable portion of the revenue can be recovered from the opium sale houses referred to below and the remainder can, I believe, be saved under police expenditare. It in well knowe that bad characters flock to this settlement and find a refuge in the opiam dens. If these harbours of criminals are abolished there will be less attractions for these gentry within our borders and our police force will, it is hoped, find their labours lessened by a decrease in crime and a lessening of the number of loafers and bad characters who frequent our streets. The financial problem will therefore in all probability be nothing like the serious factor many have supposed.
'A farther objection has been raised on the ground of the impossiilities of controlling the brothels if the opiam licences they are compelled to take out are withdrawn, po regular discharge of their duties. I quite appreciate the force of this argament and suggest that the same end will be obtained if these houses are compelled to take out a wine licence. I am informed on the best authority that all these places sell wine as well as be objected that if the opium closed the coolie and ricsha hongs will carry on an illicit trade in the drag. There should be no.difficalty kind of licence which will give the police the right of entering for the purpose of control.
It is proposed that we should follow in the settlements the general policy pursued in the native city and permit the sale of crude opium for a period of say the ten years covered by the Imperial Edict." These opium sale houses would of course be licensed by the ' ouncil, Their number should never be increased and their sales should be decreased. proportionately every year. The licence tax on these, establishments should be raised to the highest possible point with a view to making opium as dear as possible and consequently out of the reach of the poorer classes. The Council would be able after an audit of the books to ascertain the total quantity sold by each house during the past year. The licences for the ensviog Year should state explicitly the amount they are allowed to sell, which would be one-tenth less than the last year, The revenue derived from these licences would go a long way to meet the deficit caused by the closing of the ordinary opium dens. To the sam thus obtained should be added the income derived from brothel wine licences which will take the place of the opium licences now issued.
It has not been contemplated in any official quarters to stop immediately all smoking of opium throughout the Empire. The Imperial Edict has distinctly laid down that a period of ten years is allowed for the gradual extinetion of the habit. Those who wish to consume opium in their own houses will themselves prepare it in ti homes. The difficulties in the way of preparation and the enhanced price of te article will make it " most difficult proceeding for the coolies and poorer classes to obtain the drug. They will then be compelled by force of cireumstances to abandon the opium habit. I think we shall all agree that everything is to be gained by making the opium smoking wretches who are the cause of a great deal of the crime of the settle ment abandon the habit which leads them into debt and consequently into tien I think there is no question but that the Central Government is sincere and in earnest in its attempt to put down the opium habit. Foreigners who welcome the Edict need not be discouraged owing to the fact that in many places the Edict is a dead letter. It seems to me immense progress has been made and there is no doubt but that the officials who are lukewarm in the carrying out of their instractions will be visited with punishment in due time. In any case it behoves us in this model settlement to do everything in our power to show our sympathy with this great moral reform movement.
A Chinese official who neither reads nor speaks English discussing the question with me the other day said "We are very disappointed that you foreigners who profess to assist us till continue the opium dens in your Settlement, although they have been closed
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.