618 
THE TEOPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March 2, 1903. 
HAPUTALE PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
27th annual report. 
Your Committee hag the pleasure ot laying before 
you the 27th Annual Report, and in so doing con- 
gratulate you upon the continued prosperity of the 
Association. 
The number of estates on the register is 47, 
the same as last year. Finances are in a satisfactory 
condition and the meetings (three Committee and 
three General) held during the year have been 
satisfactorily attended. 
OFFICIAL ESTIMATE, 
:£5 j« 
13 |x -<! 
S -go £EH 
H 25 
3903 - 18,710 ie,780J 6,194;97f) 455,000 682,000 892 No return 
1902 - 18,608i 14,806 5,928,5C5 14F,C00 487,000 40C l73i 
Decrease — — — — — 8 — 
Increase lOS^ QTii 266,410 3I0,C00 196,000 — — 
Season. — The past season has been an abnormally 
wet one, resulting in a general shortag® of output, 
•which should have a beneficial result of prices in the 
near future. 
CorPEE.- -Everything points to a further reduction of 
the acreage under this product, and a corresponding 
decrease in the crop. 
KoADs. — Tour Committee regrets the inconvenience 
the District has been put to by the long deferred 
erection of that bridge connecting the Leangawela 
cart road with the Koslande bridle path. The main 
and minor roads have been kept in satisfactory repair 
during the year, and your Association's thanks are 
due to those who have supervised the work. Your 
Committee hopes that the bridle path, connecting the 
Ohiya cart road with the Horton Plains road, will be 
opened to the public at as early a date as possible. 
The construction of the Haputale-Dambatenne cart 
road has been sanctioned by Government, and the 
work is soon to be taken in hand. 
Labour. — The District has been well, on the whole, 
supplied, but your Committee regrets that the roving 
disposition of coolies — so much complained of in 
other districts — is more apparent than in previous 
years. 
Estates Registration Scheme. — In the opinion of 
your Committee this scheme is working satisfactorily 
and has greatly simplified the importation of labour. 
Crime. — Your Committee is glad to state that the 
representation made by the Association to Government 
ic June last, regarding the prevalence of crime and 
drunkenness in the district has not been without 
effect, and your thanks are due to the Government 
Agent for the stringent measures taken by him on 
several occasions. The illicit sale of arrack and toddy 
still continues, but in a less degree ; fines inflicted 
seem to have little effect on offenders, and, it is hoped, 
that no efforts will be spared to piit a stop to the 
illicit sale of both intoxicants. 
Medical. — The District Medical Officer reports that 
the general health of both Europeans and natives 
during the past year has been satisfacJory, that there 
have been no epidemics of any kind, but that the late 
long period of wet weather bus been the cause of an 
increase in pneumonia and dysentery cases. 
Volunteers. — During the past year sections of the 
O M I and C P R C have been formed, numbering 
respectively 14 and 25. 
Representative in Council and Chairman op the 
Parent Association. — To these two officials your 
Committee beg to convey its thanks and appreciation 
of valuable work done and services rendered. 
Finances. — The amount shewn at the credit of the 
Association is R27'58 as against R160 82 for last year. 
During the year the following donations were made : — 
Ceylou Nursing Association R50, Victoria Memorial 
Eye Institution R50, The Society of Prevention of 
Cruelty to Animals R25, 
KELANI VALLEY PLANTERS' 
ASSOCIATION. 
THE ANNUAL REPORT. 
Meetings. — Five committee meetings and two 
general meetings have been held during the year. 
Finance. — The balance to the credit of the Associa- 
tion at the end of December 1902 is R595'34 as against 
R601"37 last year. Donations have been made to the 
Memorial to the late Mrs W E Davidson and to the 
Coronation Celebrations. A detailed statement of 
accounts is circulated amongst members. 
Schedule. — The number of snbsoribers to the 
Association is 74 as against 72 in the previous year. 
During the year two estates have resigned owning to 
amalgamation (one estate has rejoined and three 
estates have joined as new members.) 
Crop.— The estimated crop for 1903 is 16,707,5.50 lb. 
including 5,240,800 lb. green teas. Acreage in bearing 
is 36,394, or an average yield of 459 lb. per acre. Your 
Committee view with satisfaction the substantial in- 
crease in the green tea estimate, viz, 4f million in 
excess of last year. 
Labour Federation. — Four cases have been brought 
before the K Y L F during the year. One appeal 
for readmisaion has also occupied a considerable 
amount of time of the Committee. This appeal baa 
finally been allowed. Certain alterations and 
additions to the local rules, deemed neceesary by the 
Committee in consequence of one of these cases, 
have been duly passed at a general meeting 
of the Federation, and your Committee trust 
that the amended rules will work smoothly. 
Prices.— The prices obtained for black tea have 
been much about the same as in 1901. Plucking if 
Rnything, has been finer, as is shown by the reduced 
yiel^ per acre. It may be pointed out that the styls 
of plucking in the district is now practically settled in 
Colombo and London, es there are few estates in pri- 
vate hands. Your Committee view with regret that the 
action of the London Association in connection with 
the proposed increase of development of the green 
tea industry which is now the only solution of the over 
production problem. 
K.V.R. — It is with feelings of the greatest satisfac- 
tion that your Committee are able to report the formal 
opening of the first section of the line in September, 
for passenger and goods traffic to Avisawella. Your 
Committee considers that this Association is deeply 
indebted to the Chief Resident Engineer, and also 
wish to put on record their appreciation of the 
tireless energy of the Assistant Engineers, Messrs 
Edwards, Fraser, Waghorn and Bowen, who, in 
the face of many difficulties have made it 
possible for Mr Philiimore to redeem his promise 
as intimated to you last year. The large passenger and 
goods traffic already being carried over this section of 
the line, augurs well for its further success when 
opened to Yatiyantota, and proves the accuracy of the 
figures and statistics collected at the commencement. 
The works on the remaining section of the line, be- 
tween Avisawella and Yatiyantota are being' prosecuted 
with vigour, and have been practically completed to 
Karawanella, and the whole line will be finished within 
a few months, when it is hoped that H.E. the Governor 
to whose action the realisation of the Kelani Valley 
Railway has been due, will honour the district by formal- 
ly opening the line in person. The arduous Polatagama 
cross-country road will be ready lor traffic on comple- 
tion of the line to Yatiyantota and will form an outlet 
for the West Dolosbage traffic. In conclusion your 
Committee are pleased to report that a farther extension 
of the Railway to Ratnapura is being considered, and 
that the preliminary survey will be finished within five 
months. 
Roads — Continual and heavy rains during the 
latter half of the year have done considerable damage 
throughout the district and this has caused much 
inconvenience. Your Committee cannot help feeling 
