§ SIR H. COTTON (Nottingham, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, owing to the constant advance in the price of labour and in the value of crops other than opium, the ryots who cultivate opium are growing more and more dissatisfied with the present fixed price of opium; and, if so, whether he will bear the fact in mind in considering the question of reducing the area of opium cultivation in India.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. MORLEY,) Montrose BurghsThe Report of the Opium Department for 1905–6 contains a statement to the effect stated by the hon. Member. The fact has not been lost sight of in arranging for a substantial reduction in the area under poppy cultivation in 1907–8.