§ MR. SMEATON (Stirlingshire)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether opium is imported into the Transvaal for the consumption of the Chinese coolies; if so, whence it comes; the quantity and value annually imported since the arrival of the first batch of Chinese coolies; at whose expense the drug is imported; what duty, if any, is imposed on the drug at the ports; whether the value of the opium supplied to the coolies is deducted from their wages; and through what agency the drug is distributed among the coolies.
§ * MR. CHURCHILLUnder Section 8 of the Ordinance of 1905, amending the Labour Importation Ordinance of 1904, 912 published at page 59 of Cd. 2786, the possession by and supply to labourers of opium is penalised. The Ordinance came into operation on 19th September, and opium is, therefore, not now legally imported for their consumption. I am not able to give the amount imported annually, but the amount imported for the quarter ended 30th September, 1905, is given as of the value of £5,381, the duty imposed at the ports under the Customs Convention is 10 per cent. ad valorem. The Chinese police are said by Lord Selborne to have been guilty of selling opium to the coolies, but every effort is no doubt made to put an effectual stop to any such practice.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)Are the Chinese told before leaving China that they cannot get opium?
§ [No Answer was returned.]