Modular Infotech Pvt. Ltd. - DSpace

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1285. If two men came to you, one of whom was a moderate opium
smoker-Io pipes a day-and the other a moderate whisky drinker, which
would you engage ?-I would engage the whisky drinker· for preference.
1286. Then you think opium is more harmful than alcohol ?-Very
much more.
1287. Chairmon.-TIIJ the Chinese ?-To Chinese or to any other
nationality .
1288. Mr. Ielf.-Even to a moderate smoker, say one who smokes
5 or 6 pipes a day ?-Yes.
1289. Mr. Chan.-Is there any tendency on the part of the opium
smoker to increase his dose ?-The tendency is very great: a man who may
be a moderate smoker this year will be a heavy smoker next year if he has
the means to buy the opium.
1290. Mr. Ielf.-But if he is a salaried man and his salary does not
increase he cannot increase the dose?-That is so.
1291. Mr. Chan.-So that his dose is limited by his means or his
will power?-Yes.
1292. It is not the same with the drinker, is it ?-N o.
1293. Mr. Ielf.-If opium was prohibited in this country, what effect
would it have on the labour coming from China. Would it curtail it ?-I
do not think it will affect the immigrants at all.
1294. Although in those chance ships from which figures were obtained
20 per cent were smokers ?-Once they know in China that opium cannot
be got unless they have a licence and that after a certain time they would
not get a licence, I do not think the opium smokers will come here. At the
same time I do not think it would affect the labour supply.
1295. ChairnuJn.-Did you join that confederacy of mine-owners IS
yeHs ago to say that they would not employ an opium smoker?-Yes.
1296. Why did that drop out?-Things, after a certain time, got lax;
not because they could not get labour.
1297· In fact, you got tired of being good ?-Oh, we did a lot of
good at that time; many opium smokers gave up the habit and were cured.
It is the same with everything Chinese, they do not .complete what they
have set their hand to.
12gB. I suggest that that confederacy, as I call it, never was effective
at all; that it was mere eye-wash; that, in point of fact, not one of the
members oJ it ever sacked a coolie because he was an opium smoker. I
suggest that they did not carry into effect their excellent intentions?-The
intentions were carried into effect to a certain extent.
1299. The ordinary Chinese trader of any description is not going to
cut his own throat unless all his fellow-traders cut their throats at the same
time ?-It does not follow: the people are not all under the same conditions.
1300. Does the purse come before any form of sentiment with the
Chinese ?-With some people it does.
1301. Mr. Chan.-That is the case with some people of other nationalities
as well ?-It may be. .
1302. Chairman.-Talking of your registration and licensing; what
are you going to do about the permits of those who go back to China?­
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