WEIGHING AND BULKING OF INDIAN TEAS. 281 



That having regard to the existing close and hardening competi 

 tion with China, Japan, and other Tea producing countries, your 

 Petitioners naturally feel aggrieved that the important industry they 

 represent should be hampered in the contest by the restrictive and 

 superfluous impediment forming the subject of their petition. 



That your Petitioners have unsuccessfully urged on the Commis- 

 sioners of Her Majesty's Customs the adoption of this change of 

 system, and therefore venture to address your Lordship. 



That your Petitioners beg to refer to the accompanying copies of 

 correspondence between the Association and the Commissioners of 

 Her Majesty's Customs annexed to this Petition. 



That the accompanying Memorial signed by the leading mercan- 

 tile firms and others in Calcutta, interested in the growth and export 

 of Indian Tea, is an illustration of the feeling in India on the subject 

 of this Petition. 



Your Petitioners therefore pray 



That your Lordship will kindly take such steps as may be 

 necessary to secure for your Petitioners the relief sought for. 



And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c. 



T. D. FORSYTH, 



Chairman of the Association . 

 ERNEST TYE, 



Secretary. 



The following reply was received : 



INDIA OFFICE, S.W., 



28th February, 1883. 



SIR, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council 

 to acknowledge the receipt of the Memorial addressed to the EARL OF 

 KIMBERLEY by the Indian Tea Districts Association, respecting the 

 method of weighing Indian Tea at the Custom House. In reply, I am 

 to inform you that the Memorial has been forwarded to the Lords 

 Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, with the expression of 

 LORD KIMBERLEY'S hope that whatever is practicable may be done 

 to remedy the grievance complained of by the memorialists in the 

 interests of the Indian Tea trade. 



I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 



(Signed) J. K. CROSS. 



The Secretary, Indian Tea Districts Association. 



