Modular Infotech Pvt. Ltd. - DSpace

A 35
so many millions of such small measures in a year. It is, therefore,
necessary to rely on human estimation.
6. But it is not the actual failure to estimate so precisely the
exact weight of the contents of a packet that is the main objection
to the existing system. The fact that, even after perforation
in the manner above described, tampering with the existing packets
is still possible, to our mind lays the system open to criticism.
7. The packets are, when all is said in their favour that can
be said, very rough-and-ready, and to open and re-close them
without great risk of detection is not very difficult. This lends
itself to the possibility of the following abuses:-
(a) the abstraction of a small portion of the contents so leaving
an underweight packet, or
(b) the abstraction of a small portion of the Government
. prepared opium and replacement of an equivalent
amount of smuggled prepared opium, opium dross, or
other adulterant.
The former method of petty pilfering would be reduced in
extent by competition amongst licensees, hut the latter
method of tampering with the packets enables illicit
prepared opium (and even adulterants altogether
devoid of morphine content) to be disposed of very
profitably under the guise of the licit article.
8. In fact, we can conceive it possible to re-prepare a Government
packet with the contents consisting solely of illicit prepared
opium. .
9. In considering the question of measures of suppression we
have been faced throughout with the probable increase of smuggling
and we hold that such steps as are pos&ible should be taken to
render increasingly difficult the disposal of prepared opium which
has eluded the vigilance of the Preventive Service and has got
into the country.
10. With this object in view we recommend the packing of
prepared opium for retail sale in tubes which are hermetically sealed
and can only be used once. .
11. A system of this nature has been in operation in the Netherlands
East Indies since the Government of that country introduced
the Regie System there, and has, we believe, given satisfaction.
We understand that in Siam also somewhat similar methods are
in operation.
12. We are aware that this would involve packing only in·
one place, Singapore, but the packing would be done in such a
manner that breakage and leakage in transit should be negligible.
13. In making this recommE!ndation we can but realise that
we are recommending the determination of the employment of a
considerable number of hands. We deplore the fact, but it does not
alter our view of the desirability of the change.
14. In this connection a recommendation was made to us by
the Superintendent, Chandu Monopoly, Federated Malay States,
that the three-hoon packet should be replaced by a two-hoon tube.