CH. XVI.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 313
Results obtained.
641. This table shows that up to the year 1892-93 on five occasions some
increase was made in the rate of fixed duty. The
revenue steadily increased, until at the end of the
period it was double as much as in 1876-77; notwithstanding this, the number of
retail licenses after the first period of six years steadily diminished up to the year
1891-92, though in the following year there was an increase. The result is
that the number of the population per retail license increased by 38 per cent. in
the whole period. The increase in the total average taxation per sér of the taxed
drug increased from Rs. 4-0-2 to Rs. 10-15-1. As regards the area cultivated
(column 2), it has to be remembered that these figures represent the growth of the
plant for consumption in Assam, the North-Western Provinces, and some Native
States as well as Bengal. The figures in column 4 represent the ganja actually
consumed in Bengal, which has decreased largely since the first two years, and
since then has been nearly stationary.
In addition to the above facts, the evidence before the Commission tends to
show that, except in Orissa, where the Garhjat ganja competes with the Rajshahi
ganja, smuggling does not prevail in any part of the province; also that ganja
is still the cheapest form of intoxicant, and that there is no evidence to lead to
the belief that it is being displaced in Bengal by more noxious stimulants. The
Bengal Government seems to have kept in view with the most successful results
the principles which have been enunciated in Chapter XIV, paragraph 586, of this
Report as essential to an efficient excise system, and to have intervened, when
occasion demanded, to restrict the use of the Rajshahi ganja by administrative
control and enhanced taxation. The effect of the enhancements which have been
made since the year 1892-93 cannot be gauged, but the Commission have no
hesitation in saying that this part of the excise administration in Bengal is being
most carefully and ably supervised.
Weak points in Bengal system.
642. The weak points in the Bengal administra-
tion are—
(1) The defective arrangements for storage of the Rajshahi ganja.
(2) The smuggling into Orissa of the produce of the Tributary Mahals.
Storage.
643. The Bengal Excise rules provide that the cultivator must send into the
public gola all the ganja he manufactures, and
private golas are only permitted in the case of
a cultivator who can satisfy the supervisor that he has a secure private
place of his own. It has been shown above (paragraph 595) that there is no
public gola for the storage of the crop, and that all the produce is stored
in private golas. The opportunity for smuggling thus afforded has not
escaped the notice of the authorities. In his report on the cultivation of and
trade in ganja, 1877, Babu Hem Chunder Kerr (paragraph 131) dealt with the
question, and recommended the absolute prohibition of private storage and the
establishment of public godowns where the drug might be warehoused in bond.
He was of opinion that six storehouses 125 feet X 20 feet, three of which should
be at the sadar station of Naogaon and three at three outposts, would be suffi-
cient to warehouse the crop. The Board of Revenue did not support the pro-
posal, remarking that it would involve a very radical change in the existing system,
and would also necessitate a very considerable expenditure on the part of Gov-
ernment in the construction of the necessary warehouses. The absence of any
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