Colonial Office report records rise in Chandu revenue after government-run opium saloons in Malaya

A Colonial Office report on Malaya has recorded an increase of 14,00,000 dollars in revenue from the Chandu monopoly, attributing the extra sales to an influx of immigrants drawn to tin and rubber estates by high wages, according to an archive report dated October 18.The report describes the opening of government opium smoking saloons as a successful experiment. The Chief Secretary to the Malay States Government asserted that the success of the government saloons was very encouraging, according to the same account.At the end of last year, preparations were made to take over all smoking saloons in the Malay States, and a scheme of retail shops was completed. The account states that the government's aim of having all sales of Chandu conducted by government officers was now achieved, and that no licences for the sale of Chandu would be issued this year.The report does not set out the size of the immigrant influx, the period over which the revenue increase was measured, or the terms of the retail shop scheme. It also does not state how the government saloons were operated or staffed. Those details remain unclear from the available account.The figures are given in dollars without further specification of the currency or the basis of comparison with earlier revenue. The report presents the revenue increase and the policy change as connected developments in the Colonial Office's administration of the Chandu monopoly in Malaya.