\V° MONTHLY. J UJ 
Vol. III.] COLOMBO, JANUARY ist, 1889. LNo. 7. 
CEYLON TEA AT THE MELBOURNE 
EXHIBITION. 
The mail received today from Melbourne brings 
accounts of the very annoying and disheartening 
position in which the Planters' Association seems 
to have plaoed their representatives at the Mel- 
bourne Exhibition. Wo call attention to the letter 
of a correspondent on the subject, and we trust 
the Chairman aud Committee can, at Friday's 
meeting in Nuwara Eliya, put matters on a proper 
footing. When it is remembored that Messrs. 
Hugh and Wm. Mackenzie and indeed other mem- 
bers of the family give their time to the work 
of the Ceylon Tea Court, free of all cost, not 
even oharging their expenses, to their constituents, 
it will be felt, wo think, that these gentlemen 
deserve every consideration at the hands of the 
P. A. and Tea Fund Committee. Indeed, we be- 
lieve that were it not for the action of Mr. Win. 
Mackenzie early last year in urging representation 
at Molbourne, there would scarcely have been a 
Tea Fund at all. To bind tho hands thorefore of 
the Messrs. Mackenzie in tho way now described 
was surely most injudicious. What can tho Com- 
mittee who sent that Memorandum and Resolution 
have been thinking ubout? Suroly tho planters 
understand that it is of more importance to Ceylon 
to win Australia for our tea than it is even to 
make a stir in America, in Brussels or in 
Glusgow. Surely too, there is no one so foolish 
as to suppose that tho sale of 5 and 10 lb. packets 
could interfere witli our ordinary export trado ? 
We consider the caso so urgent that we trust a 
telegram will be sent to Mr. Hugh Mackenzio from 
Nuwara Eliya giving him power to go on with 
his Bales and that another supply of tea is to be 
at onco forwarded. Our increasing export of tea 
this season to Australia is no doubt, greatly due, to 
tho notice taken of it at the Exhibition. Tho com- 
piuiitivo increase may be seen from tho following : — 
To Australia. 
Oot. 1st to Nov. 29th, 1888 = 214,489 lb. 
Do. 1887 = 55,839 lb. 
Increase 15*, 650 lb. 
(from 11 OorrtipondeRt.) 
Mi i.itociiNK, 18th Nov. 1888. 
I wonder if you are aware of the critical position 
in which the 1'. A. Tea-house at tho Exhibition 
ilnmli) at the pieient moment. 
The instructions to Mr. Hugh Maokenzie were 
that oomplete discretion was left him, but 
he was to try to sell tea in the cup and packet, 
in the Exhibition, or adjoining grounds ; and 
should he be unable to Bell, he was to distribute 
the tea. 
As you are aware, the Commissioners refused to 
grant him the right to sell in the cup ; and nothing 
can be sold in the Exhibition unless manufactured 
in it. But shortly after opening the Court, it 
became clear that a sale of the tea in 5 and 10 lb. 
packets was possible, and that disappointment 
would be felt by many, were its sale refused to 
them. Mr. Mackenzie then wrote to the P. A. telling 
them so, and asking for a further remittance of 
tea, as the 1,000 lb. sent would soon be exhausted. 
To this request ihe reply is, for a Memorandum of 
Expenditure, and a copy of a Resolution of the 
Tea Committee that they could not approve of Mr. 
Mackenzie's selling tea sent him for free distribu- 
tion,— and this although their instructions were 
"sale by cup and packet, and only failing such, — a 
free distribution." 
Now with the proceeds of the sales effected (say 
£70) the amount allowed— R6,000— will admit of the 
Court being kept open till the end of November 
only. To close it then, would be nothing short of 
DISASTER. 
In the tooth of tho faots that the Court is so well 
patronized ; that one hoars praise of the tea on all 
sides ; that leading grocers advertise tea similar to 
that used at tho Court ; and that orders for Ceylon 
tea, for this market, are pouring into Colombo in 
overwhelming numbers, — surely Ceylon planters can 
seo their way to give £50 to £60 to enable their 
representative to keep tho Court open till the end 
of the year, — even if the arbitrary managers of the 
Tea Fund should be so blind to their interests, as to 
decline to guarantee anything further. 
It is not olaimed that the many orders which 
havo reached Colombo hitherto are duo to our 
exhibits horo ; but, as a loading broker re- 
marked yesterday, it is incumbont upon us 
to keep up the demand for our tea. Otherwise, 
on the arrival of all these large shipments, there 
may bo a glut in tho market, and a reaction and 
disappointment ensue. To help to avert such a 
catustropho, don't you think Colombo merohants, 
who reap commissions on orders, should do some- 
thing towards helping tho Tea Fund I Another 
£60 from them would enable us to keep open till 
tho end of January, when tho Exhibition closes. 
In any case, iho Kiosk and Exhibits will have to 
bu looked after during December and January, 
as thoy canuol be removed while the Exhibition 
is open. 
