Telegrams Being Sent to Government Leaders Vigorous to opposition proposed monopoly on the public Sale of opium is being expressed by Tocal Chinese bodies and' telegrams are. being sent. by the Chinese National Anti-Opium Association, jin ce-operation with other important local organisations and prominent leaders, to the National Government, General Chiang Kalshek and other government leaders, Referring to the conditions surrounding the sale of opium in Shanghai, the telegram says:—"In Nantao, the sale of opium conimeneed in October Jast and most of the opium hongs have removed from the French Concession to Chin Mow Di, where there are now some 60 hongs in Yien-hai Street, Min Chu Street, Boulveard des "Deux Republiques, ete, These are operating under the guise of money exchanges, stocking and sock factories, metal shops, ete, In the neigh: bourhood, loafers, armed with batons, patrol the streets to protect. the opium hongs and their custom= ers, Licences for the opium honga are issued by the' local Opium Con-{pactars'" Special "Affairs Depart= the Kiangsw provincial uthorie ties exact. $200 "from. the. opium Jdealers for each box of opium sold and $50" from "each merchant, Licences for eral dealers of opium ave issued at a fee ranging Trem $1 to. $2,000.
"Avent 30" opium merchants have proper licencen and, if. these are estimated at. $2,000 each (say. the telegrams); the income wil) be. at feast $60,000" month. Other onium "merchants "secure thelt ences from the special department scferved to." According to report,
800 a° month to the Government." port of Shanghai are paying. $100.
conteaciing oerhante on the
conclusion, the writers ask if the" latter report is correct and insist that steps should be taken to terminate. the" monopoly and supe press opium effectively:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.