INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION.
EVIDENCE OF NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCES
& OUDH WITNESSES.
1. Evidence of the HON'BLE A. CADELL, Member, Board of Revenue.
Oral evidence.
I am Member of the Board of Revenue in charge
of Excise and Member of the Provincial Council.
I was eighteen months Commissioner of Excise
in 1883-84. My experience has been largely in
settlement work: about fourteen years in various
districts, chiefly Allahabad, Muzaffarnagar, Banda
and Hamirpur. I have also been Collector in three
districts and Commissioner in two divisions.
I think our information regarding the extent
of consumption is very defective owing to our
system; and I am generally prepared to accept
the figures given in Mr. Stoker's memorandum,
paragraphs 37 to 39. But I think that his esti-
mate of the average consumption per man is high,
and that the number of consumers is probably
much higher than he puts it. When ten years
ago I made inquiries about opium-smoking, one
of the great objections to the vice urged was that
it was so expensive that it almost drove its vota-
ries into crime. I have never heard that urged
against hemp drugs. I think then that Rs. 11-6-6
per annum is a figure far above the average of
expenditure on these drugs by consumers.
I do not think our statistics are sufficient to
enable us accurately to estimate the increase in
consumption. But it is generally felt that when
there is restriction in one intoxicant, it leads to
increase in another.
That is admitted in the
Bengal report, and has been again and again ad-
mitted in this province. I think, therefore, that
since the great increase in still-head duty there
has probably been considerable increase in hemp-
drug consumption, just as there was said to be
decrease when the extension of the out-still sys-
tem gave increased facilities for obtaining liquor.
I think that the two habits are to some extent
interchangeable. The raising of the still-head
duty, more careful excise, and the abandonment
of the out-still system except in frontier and jun-
gle tracts are all causes pointing to the probabi-
lity of increase in the consumption of drugs. I
may mention in this connection that in 1882-83
the total excise on spirits was Re. 1-8-6 per
gallon, and in 1890-91 Re. 1-13-11 per gallon, and
in 1891-92, after the increase in still-head duty
Rs. 2-13-8 per gallon on London proof. The first
two were on unascertained strength, but it was to
the advantage of the contractor to take out as
high strength as possible, as the duty was irre-
spective of strength. The districts of most con-
sumption were the districts of greatest skill, and
there the strength was generally well above proof.
Perhaps the figure for 1891-92 may be abnormal,
owing to the bids for contracts being sometimes
made under mistake as to the system, but the
permanent increase is doubtless enormous.
The statistics have been defective, because there
was no revenue reason for having them, only
statistical reasons. We have only statistics of
revenue, not of consumption. There is a very
great increase in revenue, vide Mr. Stoker's me-
morandum, paragraph 42; but my opinion is
that this is more due to improved administration
than to increased consumption, especially in Oudh.
Apart from the above considerations, I have no
opinion based on actual observation regarding
the increase. Drugs do not obtrude themselves
on observation. I should say that if there has been
increase at all, it is probably among the poor
classes principally, as prices affect them most.
I have said that the effects of drugs obtrude
themselves very little on observation. As I said
ten years ago, bhang is practically harmless. As
to charas and ganja, I think the only harm observ-
able is the apparent tendency to insanity from
excessive consumption. Moderate consumption
is less hurtful than opium-smoking or (in regard
to the people of this country) English spirits. I
specify English spirits, because the people who
use them can more readily go to excess than those
who use native spirits. I would add that the
great indictment against hemp drugs is the asy-
lum statistics which were quoted at page 6 of
the Board's last review of the Excise Report.
These figures were quoted not so much with a
view to advocate restriction of drugs as to show
that spirit as used in India is a comparatively
harmless intoxicant, and that to make it too dear
for general consumption and to drive people to the
use of drugs is in the interests of the people a
very undesirable change in our excise adminis-
tration. I do not think I have ever come across
the evil effects of the drugs in any form, except
as visitor of lunatic asylums. In regard to lunacy,
I am not prepared to say that the effects of the
drugs have been accurately gauged. I am in
hopes that the labours of the Commission may
help us in this matter. My only knowledge of
the matter at present is based on the statistics of
the asylums I did not form opinion as to cause
in any special cases. I may add that ten years
ago I endeavoured to conduct an inquiry into this
question, but I found the statistics so vague that
I could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion.
Since then the statistics have been compiled in
the form in which we now have them. They are
clearer and more intelligible; but I cannot say
anything as to their basis. I know nothing of
that.
As to crime, I do not think that any intoxicant