And your petitioners humbly pray ...

Opium (1884)

Transcription

To the Honorable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, in Parliament Assembled.

The petition of the undersigned Chinese in Sandhurst, St.Arnaud, Maryborough, Daylesford, and Blackwood, Humbly sheweth –

I. That the practice of opium-smoking is one to which a great many of our countrymen are addicted, both in China and in this country.

II. That a person who smokes opium loses his energy for labour, and leads to the contraction of habits that are destructive alike to his physical and moral nature.

III. That many of your petitioners formerly consumed large quantities of opium, but were induced to give it up through the teaching and power of Christianity, which they have embraced.

IV. That your petitioners are desirous that the benefits enjoyed by them should also be shared by the thousands of their countrymen who are now slaves to opium-smoking; and that, since this habit is a great hindrance to the spread of Christianity, they are desirous that the importation of opium to this colony shall altogether cease, or that such restrictions shall be placed upon it as shall make it impossible for abuses to exist as they now do.

They therefore pray that a measure may be introduced into your Honorable House that shall embody our desires in this matter, and also that the measure may be introduced as soon as possible and brought into operation.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound,will ever pray &c.&c.

H.J.Wrixon

Ordered to lie on the table
14 October, 1884
G.H. Jenkins
Clerk of Legislative Assembly

Signed by Chinese at New Bendigo,
J.W.Veal

Signed by Chinese at Blackwood
John W. Veal

Signed by Chinese at Daylesford
John W. Veal

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