MAKING INDIAN TEA KNOWN. 219 



I wrote the following remarks on the above to the same 



paper : 



INDIAN TEA SALES AT HOME. 



To the Editor " Statesman:'' 



Sir, Your article of Wednesday on the above, and a letter from 

 Mr. Drews in Thursday's paper, have interested me much. As you 

 truly say, it is more than absurd that the public at home should pay 

 150 per cent, for our Teas above the prices at which they are sold in 

 Mincing Lane, and that this tremendous profit, minus 6d. duty, should 

 all go into the hands of the retail dealer. Absurd as it is, it is still a 

 great fact, and the absurdity can only be increased in one way, and 

 that is, if we remain quiet, accept the position, and do nothing. 



That we ought to move, and move quickly, is very certain. How 

 best to act requires serious consideration, and ample discussion. 



You advocate a company or association to sell our Teas retail in 

 all the large towns in Great Britain, and advocate a subscription of 

 Rs. 10 per month by each garden in India, until the business could 

 support itself. Nothing can be done unless we all subscribe a small 

 sum to set it going, and the amount you mention (Rs. 120 for one year; 

 the necessity would most assuredly last no longer) should frighten no 

 one, while, if done generally by the Indian gardens, it would be ample. I 

 would suggest, therefore, that we should begin the matter as set out below. 



The following none of the very many interested in Tea can deny : 



1. The large profits made on Indian Teas at home are not 

 realised by the producers, but by the retail dealers. 



2. We can easily undersell the said retail dealers, to the tune of 

 50 per cent, or more, and still work at a large profit. 



3. If the retail dealers were so undersold, an enormous custom 

 would ensue to us, or rather the agents we employed. 



4. If Indian Teas were procurable at a fair price all over Great 

 Britain, because Indian Tea is superior to China, because those who 

 have drunk Indian never revert to China, because thousands would 

 then taste our Teas for the first time, and continue their use I say, 

 because of all this, little by little, the consumption would increase in a 

 ratio we do not dream of now. 



5. The consumption so increased, we should necessarily, because 

 demand exceeded supply, get good prices at the public marts in 

 Calcutta and London, and in consequence thereof the value of all Tea 

 property in India would be greatly enhanced. 



