MR. HUNTERasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether, having regard to the consequences of licensing of opium shops in British Burmah, as disclosed in a Memorandum by C. U. Aitchison, esquire, late Chief Commissioner of British Burmah, addressed to the Government of India in 1880, the Government will prohibit the opening of opium shops, and the sale of opium, in the newly annexed territory?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir UGHTRED KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH)No information on the subject of the licensing of opium shops in Burmah has yet been received from the Government of India. But I have no doubt they will discourage the sale of opium in the newly-annexed territory, so far as this may be practicable, considering that the drug is believed to be already in common use.