610 
THE TROPICAI. 
AGRICULTURIST. [March 2, 1903. 
Ceihe,— Your Committee regret to report alnarked 
increase of crime in the district, chiefly in the forni 
of burglaries, highw.xy robbery.cattle lifting &c. Efforts 
to bring the ciiminalsto justice are but very partially 
successful, and your Committee cannot think that if a 
better watch were kept on the movements of numerous 
bad and doubtful characters, who live in the district 
without having any visible means of support, much 
might bs done to improve matters. 
The C P K C. — Your Committee are glad to report 
that the Planters' Rifle Corps has been well supported 
daring the year. 
The Kaluganga Navigatioi-j Company.— A steamer 
service under this title hits been running between 
Kalutara aud Anguruwatota since April of this year, 
and your Committe would report the very high ap- 
preeifition of the district for this great step in transport 
facility. From the point of view of the shareholders 
the results have not been at all satisfactory, but the 
district is to be coogratulated on the data and figures 
of traffic which the 8 months' working showed. Under 
new auspices and on a basis more fitted to obtain 
traffi?, there seems no reason why this service should 
not become permanent and be a success in the future. 
Finance. — The balance in the Bank at the close of 
the year amounted to Ro39'29 ; there is a further sum 
' of R500 oh loan to the Kalutara Cricket and Sports 
Club. 
DOLOSBAGE AND YAKDESSA P. A. 
ANNUAL REPORT 1902. 
Membership :—Tli8 number of subscribers to 
the Association was 35 inclading 2 private votes. 
Meetings ;— There were two general and three 
Committee meetings held during the year. 
FiNAKCE :— The balance at credit wasR178'15 
plus lio'di due to the Association by tlie 
Nawalapitiya short cut making a total of Ri84'09. 
Season : — The past season lias not been a good 
one. Crop has been generally short owing to 
unfavourable weather and other causes. The market 
at tlie same time has been the lowest on record. 
The Estimate of Crop for 1903 is as follows: — 
Average in tea 16,316 
do do bearing 15,901 
Black tea 5,907,500 
Green tea 285,000 6,192.500 
Native leaf 154,000 
Total 6,346,500 
This being 389 lb. per acre against 400 in 1901. 
Labour :— The supply during the year was 
sufficient on most estates a few only being short. 
Your Committee is pleased to be able to 
state that the services of the Federation Com- 
mittee were not requisitioned. 
Tin Tickets : — Your Committee considers that 
the Tin Ticket system has worked admirably. 
Pksts :— Your Committee regrets tliat the 
district has not been free from pest? during tlie 
past year. Helopeltis appeared on some estates 
and Borer has doubtless accounted for some of the 
shortage on others. 
illFLiC Corps : — A section has been formed 
daring the year and a Rifle Range established at 
Penny-Ian. 
Ceylon Nursing- Association :— Your Com- 
mittee recomrnends Superintendents to ask their 
Proprietors or Agents to alio v them to sub- 
scribe annually on estate account to tiiis ex. 
cellent institution. 
MATALE PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
THE ANNUAL REPORT. 
In bringing forward the report for the past year, 
your Committee has pleasure in being able to state 
that the position of the Association continues to be 
satisfactory. The number of estates on the register 
is 63 against the same number last year ; the fiaaucea 
are in a satisfactory condition, the meetings have 
been well attended and the various subjects discussed 
have been foliowed with keen interest. 
Following our custom the reports on the different 
products of the district have been written by mem- 
bers specially interested in each. The position of tea 
has if anything, improved since Inst year and we may 
add that the Assnoiation is satisfied with the manner 
in which the XXX Committee deal with the interests 
of our staple. Cocoa is agriculturally in a sound 
position and prices are better than last year though 
still rather uncertain. The heavy rains of the last 
three months of 1902 did a great deal of damage and 
caused serious loss to what promised to be a very 
favourable crop, also producing recrudescence of 
canker. The crop picked for the year, however, was a 
satisfactory one and probably the largest the district 
has ever sent away. The cocoa stealing question ia 
in the hands of the Planters' Association, that body 
having on the 4th November last unanimously adopted 
a resolution brought forward by your Chairman. His 
Excellency the Governor intends to appoint a Com- 
mission to enquire into the question, i'he delay which 
this will cause is very disappointing and in the 
opinion of your Committee unnecessary, as the facta 
on which the Association rests its case, have been put 
into pamphlet form and can be enquired into at any 
time. These facts were accepted as establishing a 
grievance, when a deputation waited on the Lieute- 
uant-liovernor on 28th June last, and we were thee 
told that what was necessary to enable Government to 
take up the case, was a favourable expression of native 
opinion : that expression of opinion has been obtained. 
A large and influential deputation of n;itive cocoa 
growers, headed by Mr Daniel Joseph, waited 
on the acting Colonial Secretary in Sep- 
tember last and obtained a favourable 
reply. Lists were circulated amongst the native pro- 
prietors for signature and were signed by over 60Q 
owners. The following paragraph headed these lists 
in English, Sinhalese aud Tamil and was drafted word 
for word by the A G A of Matale, and approved of by 
him, before the lists were sent round for signature. 
That paragraph is also word for word the resolution 
which was passed by the P A on the 4th Nov., last, so 
that the Planters and A G A of Matale, who has de- 
voted special attention to this question, are at one 
on this point ; and the conditions demanded by the 
Lieut-Governor have been fulfilled aud yet the case 
,has been delayed. Assuming however that a Comraia- 
sion is necessary, it is difficult to understand the delay 
in appointing one which has taken place since the 
opening of the Legislative Oouucil, and by which, any 
legislation is postponed for another year and until 
Hi's Excellency Sir J. West Kidgeway has left tbe 
island. Your Committee can only express its disnp- 
pointmentand surprise. The paraijraph referred to is: — 
Special Legislation for. Cacao Stealing.— "We, 
the uudersignod, are of opinion that the law, as it now 
stands, is not sufficient for tbe protection of oacao- 
proprietors. W-e would, therefoie, respectfully sug- 
gest some amendment of the Piselial Products 
Ordinance, which, while continuing to make the poa- 
sessio I of gi-een cacao without a satisfactory account 
of such possession an offence, might also provide 
against the dishonest possession of ripe and cured 
