CH. XVI.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 315
it would materially reduce the bulk of the produce and make the introduc-
tion of public golas more easy of accomplishment. The plan is also advocated
by some subordinate Excise officers and Deputy Collectors.
Ganja administration in the Cen-
tral Provinces.
646. The present system of ganja administration in the Central Provinces
has been in force since 1882-83, previous to which
there were several changes, which may be briefly
recapitulated. In 1871-72, the first year during which Act X of 1871 was in
force, the monopoly of vend of drugs (which included madak) was put up to
auction for each district as a whole, or for smaller areas, and knocked down to
the highest bidder. The contractors were free to make their own arrange-
ments for obtaining the drug from cultivators, and cultivation was free. In
1873-74 the Local Administration had to consider complaints by the retail con-
tractors to the effect that the extensive cultivation of ganja for home con-
sumption by private individuals seriously interfered with their profits, and
prevented them from paying to Government as high a revenue as they other-
wise might. Meanwhile the Government of India had issued instructions to
all Local Governments to discourage the consumption of ganja and bhang as
far as possible by placing restrictions on their cultivation, preparation, and retail,
and imposing on their use as high a rate of duty as could be levied without
inducing illicit practices. Accordingly, in April 1875, rules were introduced pro-
hibiting cultivation except under license, for which the levy of an acreage fee was
authorised, and embodying other provisions for inspection of stocks and licenses
to cover the possession of the produce until its purchase by the licensed vendor.
The acreage fee was fixed soon afterwards at Re. 1, and in 1876-77 a special
penal fee of Rs. 10 per acre on unlicensed cultivation was introduced. These
acreage fees were, however, pronounced illegal by the Judicial Commissioner in
1878, and new rules were framed providing for the storage of all ganja in Govern-
ment godowns or in authorised private storehouses and for levy of duty on the
drug when removed. The duty was fixed at Re. 1 per sér. Difficulties were
experienced in working these rules, the cultivators not being able to dispose of their
produce to the licensed vendors. The wholesale vendors held aloof, feeling
uncertain of the effect which the enhanced duty might have on consumption, and
the retail vendors would not purchase direct from the cultivators. The Local
Administration accordingly purchased nearly the whole crop, amounting to some
6,856 maunds, at a cost of nearly Rs. 50,000. The Government of India, how-
ever, objected to the creation of a Government monopoly of ganja; so in 1880-81
the monopoly of wholesale vend for the province was granted to a single indivi-
dual, who agreed to pay a duty of Rs. 2 per sér on all ganja sold by him to
retail vendors, and to supply them with the drug at Rs. 3 per sér. It was con-
templated in the agreement that the price might be raised by increments of
4 annas to Rs. 4 per sér, and the duty by increments of 3 annas to Rs. 2.12
per sér, within the year 1880-81. At the same time the system of auctioning
the monopoly of retail vend by circles was done away with, and monthly licenses
were issued at fixed rates, varying according to the size of the town or village,
and without limit as to the number of licenses existing in one place. This system,
however, was abandoned in the following year, and the auction system was again
for the most part introduced. This was the origin of the system of monopoly
of wholesale which exists to the present time in the Central Provinces.
Since
1882-83, by which time Act XXII of 1881 had become law; the wholesale