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EVIDENCE OF PUNJAB WITNESSES.
1. Evidence of MR. C. M. RIVAS, Officiating First Financial Commissioner.
Oral evidence.
I have been twenty-nine years in the Civil
Service, all in the Punjab. The parts of the
province with which I am best acquainted are the
Jullunder Doab, the Kangra District and the
Lahore Division. I am now Financial Commis-
sioner. I am not in charge of the Excise Depart-
ment. The growth of the hemp plant is exceed-
ingly common all over the Kangra district,
especially Kulu. I think it is a rain crop from
the growth I saw the other day in the Kulu
in October. There is no other district with
which I am acquainted in which it grows abun-
dantly. But I imagine it does so in the hill parts
of Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur.
I cannot say that the effects of charas or bhang
have come before me in respect to the health or
well-being of the people. Occasionally, as when
a lambardar has had to be dismissed, I have heard
that the reason of a man's going to the bad has
been that he has taken to drugs. This is a gener-
al statement, and I have not verified it. "Drugs"
might, of course, include opium. I should say
certainly that liquor has come more prominently to
my notice than these drugs in its effect on the
health and well-being of the people. But even
in the cities the effect of none of these intoxicants
is appreciable, so far as I know. Certainly in the
villages a man who takes to drugs or liquor to
excess is a notorious object ; but the cases are few
and far between. I must except Kulu, where the
people are much addicted to their favourite liquor.
It is a light brew. But this is a marked feature
of Kulu.
I have not observed any connection between
hemp drugs and crime. I cannot say that any
cases have come to my notice. I cannot think of
any in particular. I have never heard of a case of
running amuck under the influence of hemp in the
Punjab. I have read of such cases in the news-
papers ; but no such case has come to my personal
notice.
I think that Government is bound to control the
manufacture and sale of intoxicants by imposing
pretty high excise duties. This is the present
policy of Government and works well. The duties
must not be so high as to encourage illicit manu-
facture or smuggling. Apart from that the duty
may be as high practically as Government chooses.
I am not aware of any worse intoxicants in the
Punjab than opium drugs and liquor. In regard
to both hemp drugs and liquor, it has to be remem-
bered that their maunfacture is very simple and
can very easily be carried on.
I think that in this country Government ought
to control the manufacture and sale of intoxicants ;
for I think that they are deleterious when taken
in excess. They are to this extent deleterious
that this amount of interference is justifiable and
proper, apart altogether from revenue considera-
tions. But I think a very strong case would have
to be made out to justify prohibition. I mean this
on general principles, apart from the very great
practical difficulties of prohibition. You could
prohibit charas without much practical difficulty,
as it is an imported drug ; though some charas
would certainly find its way into India. It is in
regard to bhang that there would be the great
practical difficulty, as it grows wild in so many
parts of the country. I do not consider that such
a strong case as would justify prohibition can be
made out in regard to either charas or bhang,
certainly not in the Punjab.
I think that hemp drugs are insufficiently taxed
in the Punjab. Certainly as compared with liquor,
both charas and bhang are insufficiently taxed.
Further taxation of charas, in the form of an
import duty under the new Act, is in con-
templation. I believe that difficulties have been
raised by the Kashmir authorities about levying
a tax on the frontier, and that the idea is to levy
the tax at central warehouses. But I cannot give
details, as the subject is not in my department ;
nor can I give any opinion as to the best method
of taxing the drug. I have not considered it
sufficiently.
I understand that the Kashmir
authorities object that it would destroy the trade.
I have formed no opinion on that point.
In regard to bhang, anything further in the way
of taxation would be very difficult. I cannot go into
the matter. All I can say is that, if it could be
done, it would be well to impose heavier taxation.
The control at present is very little, as the plant
grows wild and is easily manufactured. It would
be difficult to control. 1 do not think that a
considerable increase of taxation would materially
reduce consumption. But certainly the article is
not adequately taxed ; and if more taxation could
be imposed on it, it would be well.
2. Evidence of MR. G. M. OGILVIE, Officiating Second Financial Commissioner.
Oral evidence.
I have been thirty years in the Government ser-
vice, passed entirely in the Punjab. I know Upper
Punjab and the frontier best, and I have some
acquaintance with the Delhi division. In fact I
have experience of all parts of the province except
the Jullundur division. I am at present officiat-
ing as Financial Commissioner in charge of ex-
cise.
I know from reports that the plant grows wild
in the Gurdaspur district, though I have not seen
it there. It grows also in the Dera Ghazi Khan
district, both wild and to a small extent cultivated.
My experience of the effect of the hemp drugs
upon the health and welfare of the people is
limited. It is chiefly confined to the Dera Ghazi
Khan district, where I served for two years. In
that district the consumption of both bhang and