15
Regarding the orders issued by the Bengal
Government in September 1889, it was no doubt
a mistake in fact to suppose that the Gurjat ganja
was used entirely or mainly as a drink; but I do
not think there was any mistake in the policy of
that Resolution, because, though the Superintend-
ent reported that the prohibition had been en-
forced in eleven of the States, I do not believe
that the enforcement was more than nominal.
Even if a Raja agreed to prohibit, I do not believe
he would carry out the arrangement. Therefore,
believing this, though I have no personal know-
ledge of what had occurred before 1890, I think
that no real progress had been made. If I heard
that greater success had attended similar prohi-
bition in States of the Central Provinces, I should
attribute it to the better supervision exercised in
the Central Provinces, owing to the fact that they
have a Political Agent who is much more in touch
with the Rajas than the Superintendent of the
Tributary Mahals can possibly be. I believe also
that the Central Provinces Government exercises
stricter supervision and more severe control over
the proceedings of the Rajas than the Bengal
Government allows the Superintendent to do. I
understand that the Commissioner in the Central
Provinces has authority to send for a Raja and
reprimand and warn him regarding the mis-
government of his State; whereas on our side this
is not allowed, except in cases of open revolt.
In my opinion, if the Government is to secure
the Rajas against revolt as the consequence of
misgovernment, there ought to be greater powers
of supervision and control than there are at
present. With these greater powers in the hands of
the Superintendent the Rajas would be more amen-
able to advice. And any advice which the Chiefs
affected to accept, and any orders issued in accord-
ance therewith, would also be much more easily
given effect to and carried out if there were a
political officer appointed to visit the States and
be in constant touch with them as the Superin-
tendent, Tributary Mahals, cannot possibly be.
In excise matters the Rajas would become
more amenable if such an arrangement were made.
And as regards ganja, all that would be necessary
would be to get the Rajas to order all the ganja
intended for export to British territory to be
brought together into a central depôt and to be
sent only under pass. Such ganja would be sub-
jected to an adequate duty on entering British
territory. I should not interfere with internal
consumption at all. The Raja would then be
responsible that ganja was not exported from his
territory without pass, that is to say, he would
issue orders against any export except through
the gola, and he would punish any attempt to
evade such order. A smuggler would render him-
self liable to punishment by his own Raja and
the co-operation of the Raja would be secured.
If this were effectually carried out, it would be
sufficient.
If the Rajas would agree to prohibit cultivation
and accept our ganja, receiving the duty them-
selves, as in the Central Provinces, that would be
a better and simpler solution of the matter.
The effect of the decision of the High Court
and the Secretary of State declaring the Gurjat
States to be foreign territory has been followed by
the repeal of the Regulations which were previ-
ously in force. On the matters provided for by
Regulation, e.g., succession and settlement of
boundary disputes, executive orders have been
substituted, and no practical change in the rela-
tions between the Rajas and the Superintendent
has taken place, except that the Superintendent's
authority has been weakened owing to the neces-
sity for referring everything to Government.
With regard to excise, there was no law or regula-
tion in force in the States. The position of the
Government in excise matters in relation to the
States is affected by the Secretary of State's
decision, inasmuch as the authority of the Superin-
tendent has been weakened, and inasmuch as the
Rajas are more independent in their tone. I
cannot say whether it has actually been altered:
that will depend on the terms of the sanads which
are under consideration. So far as I remember,
there is no special reference to excise matter in the
proposed sanads, but they define generally the
relatious between Government and the Rajas.
I see no objection to the introduction of
Rajshahi ganja into the States if the Gurjat ganja
is prohibited. I am not prepared to say that 1
approve the opening of shops where none now
exist. I have not formed any opinion as to the
comparative strength and effects of the Rajshahi
and Gurjat drugs. The introduction of a system
of ganja excise involving the establishment of
shops would tend to the reduction of consumption
if the native drug were prohibited. There is no
limit to the amount of their own ganja which the
people of the Gurjats can obtain at present. I
doubt if the opening of shops would increase con-
sumption even if the drug supplied were of supe-
rior quality, because the inhabitants of the Gurjats
are satisfied with the commonest kinds of drugs
and other articles.
5. Evidence of MR. A. W. B. POWER, Commissioner, Burdwan Division.
As regards myself, I regret to say that I am
not sufficiently acquainted with the subject to be
able to give a personal opinion of value, and would
prefer not to hazard any generalization on the
evidence which has been collected. All I would
remark is that during a varied mufassal experience
extending over 26 years, the evils arising from ex-
cessive use of ganja came prominently to my notice
only in one isolated instance, some fifteen years
ago, where temporary insanity accompanied with
violence was ascribed to that cause; but I cannot
now remember whether the supposition was verified.
With regard to public associations, I beg to
state that the Collectors in this division have not
discovered the existence of any public association
willing to adduce evidence in the matter. In fact
there is no association in this division which deals
with such subjects.