March 1907.] 



149 



Edible Products, 



cantile delegates opposed any change in the present position. The Chairman of the 

 Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Alex. Fairlie, who has throughout recent agitation 

 consistently fought for the removal of the duty, uiged his views, we understand, 

 but failed to convince his planting and mercantile colleagues. The Imperial Govern- 

 ment having admitted that it is a matter on which local opinion ought to prevail, will 

 probably be informed of the result of yesterday's meeting. We regret the decision. 

 We have ever been consistent advocates of the removal of the duty— we have seen 

 men individually and collectively (and even a newspaper in Ceylon) waver and turn 

 on the subject— and our opinions are well-known. Ceylon planters and local agents 

 are determined not to be convinced, and our Indian brethren, we fear, must for the 

 present grin and bear it." The Times of Ceylon, on the other hand, says : " We 

 have pointed out with painful frequency the unanswerable reasons which have 

 dictated our action in the past, and it is surprising that in Madras, at all events, 

 which is so closely iu touch with our industrial politics, there should be still so much 

 misapprehension of our motives. There is no desire on our part to keep out Indian 

 teas from our market, and we would gladly welcome the means to be allowed to 

 extend to India a privilege which we do not intend to give China, Java and Japan. 

 The veiled threats of interference with our coolie labour are puerile. It would be 

 much more to the point if Madras were to help us to a way out of the difficulty." 



The " way out of the difficulty " is clear enough, but none are so blind who 

 will not see. Indian tea, especially South Indian tea, seeks a iavourable outlet via 

 Colombo ; while dealers and blenders in Colombo, having an extensive trade with 

 foreign countries, desire to import Indian tea for blending purposes. The advan- 

 tages to Ceylon of this system have been pointed out ad nauseam, but without effect. 

 India levies a small 5 per cent, ad valorem duty on Ceylon tea imported into India ; 

 but this duty is so small that it pays Indian tea traders to import increasing quan- 

 tities of Ceylon tea every year for the purpose of adding to their blends. As an 

 instance of this we have the curious spectacle of Ceylon green tea being imported by 

 certain large blending firms in Calcutta, for the reason that they cannot buy Indian 

 green tea, as all such tea can only claim the bonus on the quantity of green tea 

 exported. Here we have Ceylon green tea competing unfairly with the Indian pro- 

 duct ; as, having been exported, the Ceylon product has earned its bonus, and the 

 5 per cent, ad valorem duty levied by India is not sufficient to keep out Ceylon's 

 product. As a last resort, the Indian Tea Association have decided to ask the Gov- 

 ernment of India to refer the matter to the Secretary of State for India, " with a 

 view to the protective character of the Ceylon import duty being taken up with the 

 Secretary of State for the Colonies ;" and we shall await with interest the attitude 

 Lord Elgin will take up iu this matter,— Indian Planting and Gardening. June 30th 

 1900. 



[The question is one of great difficulty, but it seems to us that it would be 

 wise to remove the duty. Ceylon tea is nowhere sold nowadays unmixed with 

 Indian. Ed. " T.A."] 



