'466 
THE TROPICAL AaRICULTURIST. [Jan. 1, 1903. 
plaining the proposals which have been formulated 
for constituting an executive body by whom the 
proceeds of the Cess rjay be administeieii. The 
ideal executive for such a purpose would un- 
doubtedly be a small Committee ot four or five 
experienced and capable business men, possessing 
the confidence of tea-producers. But the peculiar 
circumstances and conditions of the industry 
preclude the possibility of such a body being called 
into existence. For it is natural and right that 
all those who pay the Cess should expect to exercise 
direct control of the expending ot its proceeds ; 
and in the following proposals this expectation 
has been kept .steadily in view. 
6. It is proposed to form an AdminisfratiyeOom- 
mittee, consisting of members representing (a) 
tea-growers ; and (h) the general commercial 
community. This is the principle underlying the 
constitution ot the so-called ' Thirty" Committee, 
by whom the Ceylon Cess Funds are ad- 
ministered ; and it appears to be so sound that 
it has commended itself to the Indian industry. 
In the appointment of the members representing 
tea-growers it is advisable that both large and 
small tea companies, and private proprietors also, 
should, if possible, have a voice. After most 
careful consideration it has been agreed that this 
(jan be best ensured by permitting every tea 
district in India to appoint a representative, or 
more than one ; and also by allowing the Indian 
Tea Association of London, and Calcutta, each to 
make appointments. The question of the repre- 
sentation of the general conuiiereial community 
has been solved by inviting the Bengal Chamber 
of Commerce to agree to nominate three of its 
members. These nominations the Chamber has 
consented to make ; and it is understood that, of 
the three members, one will be the President of the 
Chamber for the time being, and another a pro- 
minent banker. , . 
7. There still remain ^he following points: 
(a) the number of members ; (b) the precise 
method by which they will be appointed ; and 
(c) their duties. Regarding (a) it is recognised 
that to provide for the equitable representation of 
the different districts is a matter of some diffi- 
culty. A proportionate representation, based on 
acreage or outturn, would be in theory the most 
desirable. But in practice it would give so great a 
preponderance to Assam and Bengal as to be 
unacceptable to the smaller districts. The most 
feasible plan will be, it seems, to allot two mem- 
bers to the Brahmaputra Valley, and one member 
to each of the other districts. These latter are 
CaChar, Sylhet, Darjeeling including the Terai, 
Jalpai^uri (the Dooars), the United Provinces 
(Uehra" Dun and Kumaon), the Punjab (Kangra), 
Madras, and Travancore. There will thus be ten 
representatives of the various tea districts. The 
Indian Tea Association (Calcutta) might appoint 
five members ; and the Indian Tea Association 
(London) two members. The Bengal Chamber of 
Commerce will, as has been stated, appoint three 
members. The new organisation will, therefore, 
consist of twenty members. 
8. Taking now the second point {b) it is pro- 
posed that the district members should be 
appointed by the local Associations in such manner 
as may seen to them to be desirable, Theie local 
Associations are very representative of each dis- 
tiict; and are the only existing machinery by 
which the appointments could be made. The 
nominees of the Indian lea Association will be 
elected at ordinary or special general meetings of 
the Association. And it is left to the Committee 
ot the Bengal Chamber of Commerce to decide 
upon the mode of appointing the three represent- 
atives of that institution. 
9. To discuss the duties of the new Committee 
is no easy task at this stage. But judging from 
its composition there can belittle doubt that not 
more than one meeting at which all the members 
could be present, could be held iu the course of 
the year. Early in December would probably be 
the most convenient time for this meeting ; and at 
it a programme of work for the ensuing year 
could be drawn up and decided upon. So far as 
can be seen at present the work of carrying out 
the programme would, of necessity, devolve 
largely on those members who would remain in 
Calcutta throughout the year. But, of course, 
every member, whether a Calcutta resident or 
not, would have to be kepi fully Informed of all 
business transacted. Seeing that many details 
of the work will have to be carried out in 
London, it will probably be found necessary 
to appoint a small London Committee to work in 
conjunction with the governing body inCalcutta. 
10. Such is in outline the scheme of administra- 
tion which has been submitted by the Gi^neral 
Committee to every district Association in India- 
Speaking broadly it has been approved, a'though, as 
is but natural, some districts have thought that the 
number of members allotted to them is insufficient. 
But the necessity for keeping the total number 
within workable limits is now, the General Com- 
mittee think, fully understood ; and they are 
persuarted that the scheme is accepted, as an initial 
measure, by all concerned. Time and experience will 
no doubt suggest many alterations and improve- 
ments ; but it may, at any rate, be fairly claimed 
that the executive which will be created under the 
scheme will accurately reflect the views of practi- 
cally the whole industry as it at present exists. 
11. In conclusion I am to express the earnest 
hope of the Committee that it may be possible, as 
is anticip'ited in the Resolution, to pass the Cess 
into law during the coming session of the Legisla- 
tive Council. It is in view of this that the present 
letter has been written ? and it is almost needless 
to add that, should any further information be 
required, the General Committee will gladly and 
readily furnish it. 
12. A statement of the statistics upon which the 
percentages quoted in para 3 are based is annexed; 
STATEMENT. 
Brahmaputra Valley 
Surma Valley 
Oarjeeling .« 
Dooars 
Cfaittagong & Hill Tracts 
Chota-Nagpur 
Kangra Valley 
Dehra Dun & Kumaon . 
Southern India 
Total 
ra a 
0.2 
us 
<s 
<3.£; 
ID J2 
<S S 
(a) 
204,985 
132,342 
60,769 
76,278 
4,241 
3,-m 
9,745 
8,055 
31,.809 
(b) 
174,426 
111,512 
24,388 
65,527 
1,733 
448 
4,501 
2,029 
31,576 
h 
(c) 
85 
84 
48 
86 
41 
14 
46 
25 
100 
.. 521,008 416,140 79.87 
Note. — The area under tea in Chittagon?', Chota- 
Nagjjur, the Kangra Valley, Dehra Dun and 
Kumaon is chiefly divided among a large number 
