67 



Edible Products. 



(Correspondence referred to.) 



Colonial Secretary's Office, 

 Colombo, 3rd May, 1006. 

 Sir,— With reference to my letter of 23rd September, 1905, and previous 

 correspondence regarding the Import Duty levied in Ceylon upon Indian Tea, I 

 am directed by His Excellency the Governor to forward for your information copy 

 of a Despatch received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies enclosing a copy 

 of a Question and Answer in the House of Commons on the subject. 



2. I am to observe that tbe object of tbe Ceylon Planters is, it is under- 

 stood, to ensure, that no tea other than that grown in Ceylon is exported from 

 tbe Colony as pure Ceylon Tea, and in this desire His Excellency considers that 

 the Planters are justified. But His Excellency regards it as worthy of the 

 consideration of tbe tea producers whether the object referred to could not be 

 secured without prohibiting the blending of tea in Colombo in bond. Colombo is 

 the natural centre of the world for tea blending, and if precaution be taken that 

 all tea leaving the bonded stores is marked as blended tea in an unmistakable 

 manner, it is not clear how the Ceylon grower can be injured. If Java or China teas 

 are required for the market, they will go to Europe to be blended there as easily as 

 they could be sent to Colombo, and in preventing the blending of tea here in bond 

 the Ceylon growers seem to prevent the creation of an additional market, while 

 Colombo is losing what would probably be a lucrative business. 



3. His Excellency will therefore he glad if the Planters' Association will 

 consider the points raised and inform him of their views on the matter. 



I am, &c, 

 (Signed) F. J. SMITH, 

 For Colonial Secretary. 



The Secretary, Planters' Association of Ceylon, Kandy. 



Downing Street, 4th April, 1906. 

 Sir,— With reference to your Despatch No. 118 of the 16th of May, 1905, I 

 have the honour to enclose for your consideration a copy of a Question and Answer 

 in the House of Commons on the subject of the Import Duty levied in Ceylon 

 upon Indian Tea. 



2. I would be glad to know whether your Government remains of the same 

 opinion as a year ago, and still considers that the present restriction should not 

 be relaxed, or whether the conditions of tbe case have been altered in any way. 



3. As I understand, the object of maintaining the duty is to safeguard the 

 purity of Ceylon tea, and the Ceylon tea growers seem to think that the encourage- 

 ment to the blending of Indian and Ceylon Teas, which would be the result of 

 removing or modifying the present restrictions, might benefit India at the expense 

 of Ceylon, although some additional trade woidd be attracted to Colombo. 



4. It is a matter on which local opinion must prevail, no Imperial interest 

 being involved ; but the present policy seems to be of somewhat doubtful value, 

 and you may be of opinion that the time has come to reconsider it. 



I have, etc., 



(Signed) ELGIN. 



Governor Sir H. A, Blake, g.c.m.g., etc. etc. etc. 



Kandy, 15th May, 1906. 

 Sir,— I am in receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, covering a Despatch 

 from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of the Import Duty on 

 Tea in Ceylon. 



