268 
Mr. Beaton and seconded by Mr. Euplook — or 
ratber, to move an amendment to it, unless I can 
Btfvail upon M>\ Benson to alter bis resolution 
I may say at once thsu I a^ree with (be geneisl 
prirjciule of the , e.sohr ion. 1 think it i- raueh 
better that the aondilionB of sale should be. d^alt 
with by an organised bod; rather than f ) • a t they 
should be liable as heretofore to alteration at 
aay time by a general aieetirg of taoae interested 
in the trade. But I contend that the planters, as 
a body, are more interested in the Colombo Tea 
sales than any other body, and they would be 
very sorry to seq anything done which would in 
any way interfere with the good relations which 
have always prevailed between the buyers and 
sellers. Hitherto they have felt that if any 
rule were oarried which might be to their de- 
triment, they could always call a meeting of the 
Trade and endeavour to have the rules rescinded. 
But now it is proposed to band over, occe 
and for all, the power of making and altering 
the conditions to an Association of Colombo 
Tea Traders . to wbioh I believe, members 
are elected by ballot. If Mr. Beoton's reso- 
lution is carried as it stands the rights of producers 
ana of all these oonnected with the Tea Trade to 
have a voice in the management of the sales will 
have been handed over beyond recall to this new 
Association, This point cannot be made too clear. 
It will be no use to pass resolutions cf the 
Planters' Association or to call any future meet- 
ings of the trade. Onoe <he authosity is vested 
in the Tea Traders' Association it cannot be 
recalled but will remain with them as lnrg as they 
choose to keep it. Now sir, the Colombo Tea 
Traders' Association is an excellent institution, if 
I may be permitted to say eo. I welcome it and 
wish it every kind of prosperity, and would 
desire to join it if a planter may be admitted 
into it, but it does not represent the Planters and 
there is no other Association that does represent 
them, except the Planters' Association of Oej Ion. 
I say, sir, that the Planters' Association should 
have an equal voice with the Tea Traders' 
Association in the settlement of the conditions of 
Bale. This is not a great thing to ask and I there- 
fore move thht certain words be added to Mr. 
Benton's resolution which will then read : — 
" Additions or alterations to the above rules may 
be made from time to time as occasion arises, at a 
general meeting of the Tea Traders' Association or 
a general meetb g of the Planters' Association of 
Ceylon to be called for such purpose in accordance 
with the rules of the Associations ; such additions or 
alterations not to take effect until sanctioned by 
both Associations." 
This resolution w ll give each Association the 
power of initiation and the power of veto. It there 
should be any disagreement it could easily be 
settled by referring the point in dispute to a Sub- 
Committee of both Associations. But as it is to 
the interest of all concerned that the Colombo 
market should be strong atd well supported by 
both buyers and eel ere, I trust that no such dis- 
agreement will ever arise. I regret that the planters 
are not more numerous'y represented at this meeting, 
but their numerous avocations prevent their coming 
down. It is not that they do not realize the 
importance of the subj ct but they cannot get away. 
I have no authority to speak on their behalf, but I 
can Eay that the subject has been a good deal 
spoken about upoountry and the fueling is pretty 
strong. There is to be a Committee meeting of the 
Planters' Association on Friday next when the 
matter will ba discussed, but I fear that unless 
you will listen to me today and accept my plea for 
the absent planter, it will then be too late to 
move in the matter. I ask you, therefore, gentlemen 
to give us that fair play which v,e all bare a 
right to expeot from one another, ar.d allow us an 
iqasl voice with ?oar»<>i««» " vo- will make 'i» 
tins al!owar<;p, whien. thoujjli claim it as * 
rigbt we are not too proud to awept ai e can- 
, ceefrlon at >oui hand?. I can only t±y that f belie" 
it viil b* vf-ry inuob uppreoiated by the ilsattn 
and w i'l do but* to in^e^i the prcsp:ri*y am 
usefulness of the Colombo ttw market than any- 
thing else you can do. 
Mr. Hit lam at a later staRe seconded the ameni 
ment. 
DELAY WANTED. 
Mr. A. M. GEPr said he should like to suggaet that 
the Chairman's resolution should ba postponed for 
a short time to eoable tbe planters to give their 
views generally to the Colombo tea buyers 
Mr. F. irTBEKi supported this. 
MB. tiUPLOCK AGAIN. 
Mr. Dupixck did not think it would be fair to 
the Tea Traders Association that they should 
permit this resolution with Mr. Campbell's amend- 
ment to go without one more word from those 
who had morG or less plaoed the resolution b<fore 
the meeiiDg. It would at once be admitted, he 
thought, that they were anxious tbe pi inters 
should be we'l represented on any Association 
which had for its interest '.he wel'-being of tbe 
Tea Trede generally, whether buyer or seller, or 
pioduoer ; but Mr. Campbell had apparently for- 
gottea that the sellers were alieady considerably 
represented through agents while only one-fifth were 
buyers pure and s.mple. In suggesting that tbe rules 
of the Association be settled by the Association they 
did not say by any means that the rules were to be 
framed by the buyeis alone, and as far as be 
could see as a buyer, he was afraid be should have 
considerable difficulty in getting the Committee to 
adopt such alterations as be thought ebou d be 
carried cut. There were a few minor alterations 
that he i hould like to suggest, but he thought he 
should be out voted by tbe tellers in getting even 
certain modest refoime canied cut. Mr. Campbell, 
he thought, need be under no apprehension that the 
producer was UL-der-iepieeenttd cn that Associa- 
tion. His own private opinion was that the pro- 
ducer was far loo much represented in the matier 
of the conduct of the actual weekly work which the 
puttiDg up of tea involved ard tbe selling 
of it involved. Such a matter was outside 
the actual soope of the planter's work. He 
entrusted these matters to his agents, and 
they were represented on the Association. 
The Chairman said he had perhaps exceeded the 
rules in allowing Mr. Duplock the right of reply; 
but he hoped the meeting would take it as an 
explaration. He was quite certain the interests of 
the Bellers would be very well and thoroughly 
looked after by those who represented them in 
Colombo (Hear, hear.) He was anxious, seeing 
that Mr. Campbell was the solitary representative 
of the planters there that day, to do everything 
in bis rower to treat him and his motion fairly ; 
but, speaking as a planter himself and as a member 
of the Planters' Association, he .'elt quite certain 
that the sellers of Colombo were too wide-awake 
to their own interests and too powerfully supported 
by pressure or influence which might be brought upon 
them to allow any ru'e to creep in whioh would 
interfere the sellers' interests. (Hear, hear.) He 
should like to say at the 6ame time that he 
knew of nothing to prevent any upcountry men 
becoming members of the Association, and the 
large companies and individual producers could 
ccme in as far as he saw, so that 4 at any time 
