‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1879-80’ [‎215v] (437/752)

BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT,
Chap- V- 314
REVENUE
AND
finance.
£187940,
OPIUM,
The year 1879-80 has, as regards the administration of the
opium revenue, been remarkable chiefly for the carrying out
and perfecting of reforms previously initiated. Hitherto its con.
dition had been admittedly unsatisfactory, owing principally
to the unrestricted passage of untaxed Malwa opium across the
borders of the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. and to the absence of check on the
cultivation of the drug in Native territories within the borders.
The measures of reform are briefly as follows:—Conventions have
been or arebeing entered into with all Native States within the Pre
sidency under which, excepting in Baroda, the cultivation of the pop-
py is prohibited, and the States undertake to procure what opium
they want for their own consumption either by direct importation
under an official pass from Malwa, or from one of the Government
warehouses, and to sell it to their subjects at a price not lower than
the rate prevailing for issue of opium to licensed retailers in
British districts, and to adopt measures necessary to stop effec
tually the illicit importation of opium across their borders and its
export from their ports, on condition of the British pass fee being
remitted either in whole or in part (according to the circumstan
ces of individual States) and of receiving special compensation in
cases where net loss of revenue occurs. In Baroda the cultiva
tion of the poppy is permitted under a State monopoly for local
consumption and for export to China j but local sale is to be con
ducted at a price not lower than that prevalent for issues to
licensed retailers in British India. Measures are to be adopted
to prevent its finding its way into British India and into other
Native States, and if exported it is to be liable to the British
pass fee. All the Native States in the Northern Division, except
ing Cutch and the Kathiawar Chiefs who have protested, have
accepted the terms offered; negociations promising success are in
progress with the States in the Central and Southern Divisions
which are, however, of minor importance, and the Khairpur State
in Sind is the only one remaining with which dealings have yet to
be initiated.
With a view to the improvement of the system in force within
the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. itself the Opium Act No. I. of 1878 was.passe ,
and, with rules framed under its provisions, came into force m
1878. Its provisions may be briefly summarized as follows.
The manufacture of opium throughout the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. has ew
prohibited; the importation of opium from Malwa has been ie
stricted to certain specified routes; all opium imported m o ^
Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. is subjected on arrival to careful exam ^ n ^ 10n to a ^j
its transmission from place to place permitted only undei o oi
passes; the wholesale and retail trade have been entirely se Pf a or
ed; and the system of licensing retailers has been improve ^
altered according to the circumstances and requirements o ea
district.