§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the statement by Mr. L. Wray, Director of Museums of the Federated Malay States, in regard to the new anti-opium remedy and to the results obtained from its use in Selangor; also to the statement that at the Weld Road establishment of the Selangor Anti-Opium Society, in Kualo Lumpur, from 16th to 23rd November last, about 400 patients had reported that they were completely cured of the habit of opium smoking; and whether, under these circumstances, His Majesty's Government will appoint a Committee to investigate the matter.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI have not seen the statement to which the hon. Member refers, but the High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States reports that there is considerable conflict of opinion with regard to the alleged cure. The Government Analyst of the Straits Settlements has been unable to find any special constituent in the plant or plants from which the decoction is prepared, and it is said that the same effects have been produced by a strong infusion of tea. A further analysis is now being conducted at the Imperial Institute, and pending a report on the results it would be premature to consider the question of appointing a Committee