Some of the Dangers of a Monopoly Nanking, June 27.
After referring to the financial didieulties now. confronting the country, President' Wang Chin-wei speaking at the weekly memorial service, dealt with the question of an opium. monopoly.
"Although the system of opium monopoly may in itself be. sound and expedient," he declared "it must, nevertheless, be realised that no system can' automatically enforce itself, 'The purpose of an opium monopoly is primarily to effect suppression through taxation, While, 'According to this system, opium ad-diets will be granted licences to purchase the drug, others will not be allowed to use' the drug, quantity which may be purchased to be gradually reduced until vencee is completely rid of this jealous habit, the enforcement of the stem will not only produce large revenue for the Government but will, also prove effective bringing about complete eradication vot the evil, The system is, however, open to serious abuses and if the right men are not secured for the car out of the scheme, it might used as a camouflaged for te ive planting of the poppy as open and. unrestricted \of the drug. There will thus be Vgrave danger that the entire nation Tay. become opium. addicts. should, therefore, be evident that an ium' monopoly is a measure which not be rashly Fesorted to.
'Take certain provinces for example. While' the, people in such provinces from planting thee ing in the drug, the ies have, however, monopolised the and plantation of the drug with the result that poppy is, being plant-'¢4 throughout the province." Where The output of opium is too large to be sold profitably, a narcotic is. ex-{tracted from the drug and put. on sale with impunity. If an opium monopoly is carried out in this fas-lon, mot only will the existence of the motion-as a State be endangered but the extinction of the whole race vill become more than a mere possibility."
Concluding, Mr, Wang expressed the opinion that the only efficacious solution of the present financial difficulties lies in. the reform of the political machinery and the building ion. He declared that the Govern ment. has decided to cary out drastic reforms, particularly Some of the provinces to which reference was made above—Kuo Min, the Although the plan has suggested as a means of solving the financial difficulties as well as; effecting "complete" suppression through taxation, the Government, has mot reached' any decision in jew of the fact that the system is open to grave abuses.
Turning to the Canton imbroglio, he said that it was primarily a local affair and was therefore not Waly to develop! to serious, pro: portions. He said that the Central ecutive Committee had already telegraphed the Canton leaders to bring about a speedy settlement of the "dispute. expressed the hope that th would be Nquidated within a short time—Kuo. Min,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.