Nov. I, 1886.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



555 



satisfactory without doubt, as being a step in the 

 clirection we have alwaj-s desired to see followed. 

 But the particular case instanced is, after all, but a 

 single step, and can scarcely be held to fultill ((// the 

 requirements of the position. The names of the 

 gentlemen by whom this new venture is supported will 

 certainly be a sufficient guarantee that, under their 

 auspices, all will be done that can be done by a 

 limited Association. But, while expressing this 

 amount of satisfaction we cannot but feel that, if 

 we are to obtain all the success that we desire 

 towards the assurance that tea of a high quality 

 shall always with certainty be obtainable by English 

 cc'nsumers, it will have to be secured by means 

 far more extended than are likely, to be at the 

 command of the Ceylon Tea growers Company, 

 Limited. 



It is to a Syndicate of the main body of those 

 interested in tea-growing in the colony that we 

 must look for the full realization of our desires. 

 It must be by compact action that such will 

 be obtained ; by the sinking of rivalry and un- 

 worthy competition such as we fear we are 

 not likely to be altogether free from when priv- 

 ate interests are held paramount to the public 

 good. Such a Syndicate has been much discussed 

 in our columns. Our planters one and all should 

 give it their support, and they must do so if 

 they hope to see the chicanery of the retail grocer 

 defeated, and to convey assurance to the Home 

 consumer that what he purchases as pure Ceylon 

 tea is what it is represented to be. We by no 

 means undervalue the possible result to the 

 enterprize now started. "We have no doubt that 

 the article it will submit for sale to the English 

 public will be all that the best well wishers for 

 the prosperity of this colony could desire. But 

 thty are bound in the very nature of things to 

 have to submit to a competition by unscrupulous 

 parties. Unless that competition can be etfec- 

 Kially wiped out, such complaints as have of 

 late been addressed to us by several correspond- 

 ents are not likely to escape the need for re- 

 petition. It is only, as we have said, by quite a 

 ciushing influence being brought to bear, that 

 the sale of inferior and impure teas which has 

 bi ought our produce into comparative disrepute 

 can be altogether stopped. 



We think therefore that, valuable as this newagency 

 is likely to prove, its establishment ought not to in- 

 duce our planting community to slacken their efforts 

 to effect such a desired combination as we have re- 

 ferred to. It will be seen from what our London 

 correspondent writes that, as with previously formed 

 agencies, it is the intention to practically limit its 

 sale, so far as the primary elfort of the Associa- 

 tion goes, to those of the produce of particular 

 estates. When that sale passes the linnts of the 

 producing powers of those particular estates, re- 

 course will have to be made to purchase in the 

 open market to make up the deficiency of supply. 

 To ensure that purchases so made, shall be of 

 corresponding quality to that of the produce of 

 the estates concerned, it must manifestly be neces- 

 sary to ensure that the agents employed are not 

 alone perfectly honest but also entirely competent. 

 Human nature being but what it is, we are 

 driven to ask ourselves the question whether sucli 

 ensurance can invariably be guaranteed ? Even a 

 single failure to obtain ' those qualities may 

 altogether undo all or nearly all the good the 

 Ceylon Tea Growers Comimny may on other oc- 

 casions have effected. 



Now, if the wliole body, or the larger propor- 

 tion, of Ceylon Tea Instates was represented by 

 a Syndioatc entirely representing their interests, 

 it is scarcely within the bounds of probability 



that any demand would be in excess of the guar- 

 anteed supply by men who would have a direct 

 personal interest in the quality of the supplies. 

 In fact the interest which, in the case of the 

 Ceylon Tea Growers Company, is centred in 

 comparatively a few individuals, would be extended 

 to a representative body so large and so influ- 

 ential that shortcomings such as we have of late 

 had reason to complain of, could scarcely be 

 dreaded. Under no circumstances hardly— iri sucls 

 a case,— would resort have to be had to promis- 

 cuous purchases in the open market. Such a 

 course, as we have pointed out, is always likely 

 to prove the weak point in the armour of those 

 who are acting as private individuals only. We 

 wish the new concern every possible success, and 

 appreciate the efforts and intentions of those who 

 have devised it and are bringing it to a practical 

 issue. But nevertheless do we feel that it. is 

 scarcely by such an agency, or by any multipKc- 

 ation of such agencies, that the peculiar needs of 

 Ceylon Tea Estate proprietors can be met. 



We have alone and specially noticed the Ceylon 

 Tea Growers' Company, because it seems to some 

 extent to be a rival to the proposed Syndicate, 

 though on a much narrower basis ; but this 

 Company is by no means the only one affecting 

 our teas of which the present mail has brought 

 us information. Wa have besides the prospectus 

 of "The Ceylon Pure Produce Company Limited " 

 (£20,000 in 4,000 shares of £5 each) with such 

 well-known names on the list of directors as 

 Messrs. Dobree, li. W. Forbes, John Hamilton, 

 .1. H. Eobcrts (S. Eucker A Co.) and C. ,]. Scott, 

 "This Company is formed" — says the prospectus 

 — "for the purpo.se of supplying the Public with 

 pure and genuine Ceylon tea, and to combine 

 with it also the sale of pure coffee." Further we read : 



" The intention is to open p, Central Depot or Ware- 

 house in London, and, as opportunities olfer, to 

 establish Branch Depots or Agencies in different 

 parts of London and the Provincial towns, and to 

 adopt all tiie necessary sources and means for publi- 

 city. It is intended to make the entire purchases ni the 

 London ftlarket from all the importations as brought 

 forward. In adopting this course continued uniformity 

 of each description sold by the Company can thus 

 be ensured, intead of depending always and solely 

 on any particular estate, the quality from winch 

 may vary season by season. No other than Ceylon 

 tea will be bought or sold by the Company. It 

 would be premature to form any calculation as to 

 the quantity of tea likely to pass through the 

 Company's sources of disposal, but estimating tho 

 amount at only a quarter of a million of pounds 

 weight, the profit would amply justify the expecta- 

 tion of a 'very good dividend. The sale of Colfeo 

 also should produce very satisfactory results." 



Then our advertising columns have for some time 

 shown that the " Direct Tea Supply Association 

 of India and China (Limited) " claims the atten- 

 tion of Ceylon planters having 40 agencies for the 

 delivery of tea direct to consumers. This mail too 

 has brought us interesting information respecting 

 the " tea " work of Mr. Pineo in America ; of Mr. 

 MacCombie Murray who is on his way thither - there 

 is plenty of room for a dozen independent promoters 

 in the United States — and of Messrs. Shand, llal- 

 dane & Co. in London, The last-named Arm deal 

 only in Ceylon teas and coffees and supplies asylums, 

 hospitals and charitable institutions at actual cost 

 price, and lay themselves out on all sides not so much 

 for large gain as a large connection. Apart from all 

 these agencies, and from Messrs. Buchanan Hois A- Co. 

 started locally, we learn that several other Ceylon 

 Tea Companies are incubating in London, so "that 

 after all we begin to think there may be no room 

 for the Syndicate in the old country; but certainly 

 it could do much good in America and Australasia. 



