EXTRACT FROM LETTER PROHIBITION AND CRIME IN INDIA.
Mr. G. Pugh, Hamerton House, 23 Kahun Road, Poona, writes : " The result of the introduction of some step towards Prohibition is the same all over the world. The Finance Member, speaking in the Assembly in September, 1925, said : ' The policy of Government has been one of maximum of revenue and minimum of consumption. The clearance -of spirits were as follows :
In 1912-13 Proof gallons = 1,161,320.
In 1923-24 „ „ = 804,000.
Wines, 102,488, reduced to 67,601 in 1923-24 ; ale and cider, 1,738,385 in 1912 and 1,246,382 in 1923—a reduction of, 28 per cent. While claiming that ' the Government's policy was highly satisfactory,' the Finance Member went on to say : ' The duties are already so high that there is a con- siderable danger of illicit :distillation with the consequence that there would be a decrease of revenue and certainly an increase in the total consumption of liquor in India.' How considerable this danger is may be gathered from-the official reports of- illicit distillation- cases, which are a mere fraction of the total, were they drawn into the light of day. I shall give only a few.
(1) Bombay • • ..
(2) Bengal • . • • (3) Madras • • •• •
-... •
(4) Central Provinces 1920-21 1923-24 1921-22 1923-24 1920-21 1923-24 1920-21 1923-24
• • • •
• • • • • • • • • •
The Government's. policy.will soon result in the creation of a nation-wide traffic in intoxicating liquors, which will be unlicensed, illicit, and untaxed."-
1,408 2,123 430 $16 1,408 2,123 423
. • 1,502
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