§ MR. MARK STEWARTasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether he has received Copies of a Petition presented by the Natives of British Burma to the Chief Commissioner, praying for the closing of the licensed opium shops, and of other documents relating to this subject, which are now under consideration of the Local Government of Burma; and whether he will print them and present them to Parliament?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, no copy of the Petition said to have been presented to the Chief Commissioner has been received, and no reference to such Petition can be traced in the proceedings of the Administration of British Burmah or of the Government of India. In the annual Revenue Re-port for British Burmah just received, I find that two Commissioners, of Aracan and of Pegu, refer to the great and injurious increase in the consumption of opium, and say that both the officials and the people themselves demand measures to check it. It appears, therefore, that the subject is receiving attention.