4
unnecessary and impolitic. In saying this I refer
to ganja as well as bhang. As at present advised,
I do not think that adequate cause has been shown
for any further restriction in this presidency than
at present exists. Cultivation is restricted by
the smallness of demand, and also by the restric-
tions on sale. It is not now so extensive as to
call for further restriction. My attention has not,
however, been specially drawn to the extent of
cultivation as compared with Bengal, etc.
I think that the system which has been in force
for the last thirteen years has worked well, and I
am not prepared to suggest any modifications of
that system at present. I have seen the memoran
-dum prepared by the Hon’ble Mr. Mackenzie, and
his views, as there expressed, have my general
concurrence. I do not think, however, that there
is any objection to a direct excise tax on the drugs
on account of the existing revenue assessment on
cultivation. As to the imposition of such a direct
tax, as I have said, I do not know of adequate
cause for this; but its imposition is not rendered
impossible, in my opinion, by the circumstances
of the revenue assessment. I understand that
in certain other provinces the cultivation of hemp
is restricted to certain districts. I see no
objec-tion to such centralisation in this presidency ;
but I have not considered this question in all its
details. In view also of the higher taxation in
other provinces, I see no reason why there should
not be a higher direct tax in this province. The
disproportion between the taxation of liquor and
of hemp drugs, and the relative dearness of liquor
which results from this, also points to the propriety
of increasing taxation on hemp drugs. I am quite
unable to compare the relative effects of hemp
drugs and alcohol. I have seen more evil from
alcohol. You cannot traverse such a district as
Thana without seeing a great deal of drunkenness.
On the other hand, I have never personally seen
a man whose intoxication was due to hemp drugs.
I do not know, however, that I could discriminate
between the two.
I have not studied the table at page 20 of the
last Abkari Report (1891-92), and am not able to
explain details and the different ratios to popula--
tion in different districts.
I think that the condition (clause 5) in the
present license for vend goes far enough in the
direction of securing the quality of the drug sold.
I think that the objects which Government
should have before it in excise administration are
to control, as far as possible, the cultivation,
production and sale of the drugs, to supply reaso
n - a b l e f a c i l i t i e s f o r m e e t i n g t h e n e c e s s a r y d e m a n d
for them, and to raise such revenue as may be
possible without going to such a point as to
encourage illicit practices. The policy of the
Government should be regulated by reference to
effects thus far, that the worse the effects the
greater the restriction and the higher the taxation
. I think that the effects of excessive consumption
have to be taken into account as well as those of
moderate consumption. It is so in regard to
alcohol. In fixing taxation so high as to cheek
excessive use, there is, I think, a heavy burden
on the moderate consumers. So far as I see at
present, drugs should be treated in very much the
same way. It is on these grounds that, so far as
I see at present, I would propose increased tax
a - t i o n o n t h e d r u g s .
4. Evidence of MR. W. PORTEOUS, Collector of Poona.
The special point on which my evidence is want-
ed by the Commission is as to “ whether the
effects of consumption of hemp drugs have forced
themselves on my notice or not.” I have no special
knowledge of hemp drugs, of the classes who con
-sume them, or of their effects on the consumers.
Were I to give evidence, all I could say is that,
having served in eleven of the eighteen districts of
the presidency proper and. in nearly every part of
the province of Mysore, I cannot call to mind in my
twenty-six years of service any criminal case I
have had to deal with either directly or indirectly
in which the consumption of hemp clurgs in any
form was mentioned or indicated as having led to
the commission of the offence charged. I have
read of offences alleged to have been committed by
persons under the influence of bhang, but I have
not myself had cognizance of any.
5. Evidence of MR. E. J. EBDEN, Collector, Ahmednagar.
1. Official opportunity as Collector of Ahmed
-nagar, in which district the plant is grown.
2. The definitions may be accepted subject to
the following observations. The terms siddhi,
subzi, pati are not known locally. Bhang fulfils
Dr. Prain’s definition, and also includes the broken
refuse left on the treading floor during the man
u - f a c t u r e o f g a n j a . O n l y f l a t g a n j a i s k n o w n l o c a l l y .
The word chur or churi is known, and is under
- s t o o d b y s o m e t o m e a n t h e f r a g m e n t s a b o v e r e f e r r e d
to as bhang ; and by others to mean the small side
tops of the plants as compared with the larger
terminal tops.
3. I know of none. A stray plant or two, evi
- d e n t l y s e l f - s o w n , o f t h e c u l t i v a t e d v a r i e t y i s
locally found here and there.
7. ( a ) Yes.
(b) No.
(c) Insignificant.
(d) For seed.
Bhang is made of the plants grown for seed,
and is a bye-product during manufacture of ganja.
Details of area have been already supplied through
the Commissioner of Abkari.
8 . N o n e w o r t h n o t i c e .
9. When grown for ganja the plant requires a
rich friable soil, and land near a village site is often
selected on account of the manure with which native
habits supply it. Irrigation being necessary in
case of insufficient rain bagait land is preferred.
When the plant is grown for seed or for the manu--
facture of bhang only irrigation is not essential,
and in ordinary seasons any good jirait land will
do. The soil is carefully prepared and well
manured. Some persons assert that the effect on
the soil is beneficial owing to the leaf manure