INDIA AND THE OPIUM TRAFFIC.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3229, 27 May 1911, Page 3

INDIA AND THE OPIUM TRAFFIC.

1 When China agreed to diminish its unport of opium by one-tenth annually until it iiatl disappeared, it was argued that tlie revenue received by the Indian Government would simultaneously sink, and that as the years went on fresh sources of revenue would gradually be found. But, as a matter of fact, the revenue has risen enormously,” says the “Manchester Guardian.” ‘ “China has kept to her word and vigorously restricted the home production of' the drug, with the result that prices have jumped up by leaps and bounds. Mr. Taylor shows what the result has been for tlie financial year now ending. “The opium revenue, had no agreement to diminish export been made, might have been expected to be £2,160,000. The Indian Government’s estimate was £3,553,000. The revenue actualy received will be between £6,500,000 and £7,000,000, and already, although only four years of the agreement have elapsed, the Indian Government has received as much as it might have expected to receive during the whole period of ten years. It is pretty clear, therefore, that the Indian Government could not complain, from the point of view of its receipts,, if the period agreed on were to be greatly reduced or even brought to an end without delay, for it has already had all the revenue that it expected to receive in the whole ten years.”