§ MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to a statement in "Abkari" for this month to the effect that the revenue from native intoxicants in Bombay has increased from Rs.38.82,966, as the average of five years ending 1881–2, to Rs.75.19,911 for the year ending 1889–90; whether he can state what was the increase in the quantity consumed; whether he will draw the attention of the Bombay Government to the Resolution passed by the House of Commons in March, 1889, against giving undue facilities for the sale of strong drink in India; whether his attention has been drawn to the statement that the Government of Bengal raises an annual revenue of £240,000 from the sale of bhang and other preparations of hemp; whether he has any evidence to show that these drugs are the cause of much of the lunacy in India; and whether he will call the attention of the Government of India to the dangerous character of these drugs, and the necessity of restricting their sale?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. CURZON,) Lancashire, Southport(1) The Secretary of State has seen the statement which is taken from the published Abkari Report for 1889–90. (2.) The consumption in the Presidency cannot be stated as a whole for the earlier period, when the farming system, under which the statistics were not ascertained, prevailed in some districts. (3.) The Secretary of State does not think it necessary to communicate with the Bombay Government in the manner suggested. The hon. Member is aware that during the period named in the first paragraph of his question, the rate of duty on native spirit has been greatly raised. For instance, in Bombay City, of which we have full statistics for the last ten years, the duty on moura spirit was raised from R1 to Rs1¾ in 1876; to Rs.2¼ in 1878; to Rs.2¾ in 1886; and to Rs.3 in 1889, at which rate it stands at present. The consumption in 1881–2, with a population of 773,000, was 639,975 gallons; in 1890–91, 1087 with a population of 804,000, it was 564,190 gallons. (4.) The Bengal revenue from drugs in 1890–1 was not £240,000, but Rs.236,000. (5.) The Reports of Lunatic Asylums attribute some 25 per cent. of the cases treated to the abuse of ganja. (6.) A Report on the subject of the consumption of narcotic drugs other than opium has been called for, and has been promised by the Government of India. Until it is received, the Secretary of State does not propose to take any action.