Modular Infotech Pvt. Ltd. - DSpace

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in .the &.ttractiveness and profitablene88 of the bUfline88. and this
fact mere than anything else convinced U8 that the • 'vP!ltpd
interests" .must go.
11. It is clear to us that illegalities can easily be practised
under the cloak of & licence, and that, without far more effective
l:uropean supervision than is possible in any administration in
British Malaya, breaches of any new measures to stitIen up the con·
trol over the use of prepared opium will be connived at by licensees,
whose sole idea is to make as much profit legitimately-or even
illegitimately, provided the risk of discovery is not great-as they
can.
12. We are equally clear on the point that immediate universal
icancallation ot opium·shop licences would involve considerable
hardship to a number of people, a matter which it is difficult to
contemplate with equanimity at a time when British Malaya
is just beginning to recover from the worst slump in its history.
13. The suggestion has been made to us by two influential and
representative Chinese bodies in Singapore, the Chinese
Advisory Board and the Chamber of Commerce, that gradual
reduction of the number of licences should be carried out, and that
there should be a ba,llot amongst the existing licensees for the right
to the reduced number of licences.
14. It is possible that a generation ago this settlement of the
question by lot might have been an acceptable, as well &s ideal,
solution, but we think that in the present state of feeling it would
merely rank as an ideal solution and would not settle the question
of whether those to whom the fates were not kind should be com·
pensated or not.
15. That the problem could be solved satisfactorily with & mini.
mum of compensation if the change is etIected gradually is clear,
but as this change to Government shops is, in our opinion, a condi.
tion precedent to any suppressive measures, WP feel that endeavours
should be made to carry it into effect, in the Straits Settlements
at any rate, with as little delay as possible.
16. The problem of compensation may have to be faced in the
Straits Settlements unless the replacement of licensees by Govern·
ment official managers is to drag on interminably, and judging from
what was told us in evidence by the deputation, every licensee will
claim that he bought his furniture fittings and good-will at the top
of the market. We trust, however, that the strong and active
support of the Chinese community will be given toward etIecting
this important preliminary measure as speedily and as economically
as possible.
17. There is no magic wand which will create an adequate and
suitable staiI to manage the various dep8ts which would be necessary,
even under a process of gradual elimination of opium-smoking,
to replace the existing licensed shops. .
18. This difficulty of finding the necessary staff of a proper
quality varies considerably in intensity in the different administrat.ions,
and replacement of licensed shops by Government shope