April I, ia03.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
677 
False Packing. flagrant case of false packing, 
wbich waa fortunately discovered before shipment, was 
brcn£»ht to the notice of your Committee lately, who 
decided upon legal action if such could be pursued 
with any hope of success. The lawyers were, however, 
not encouraging, with the result thit two further mea- 
sures will be iutioduced at the general meeting, in- 
tended to protect the Trade against a recurrence of 
false packing or cognate malpractices. 
Grben Teas. — A noteworthy feature of the past year 
has been the increasing demand for Ueylon Green Tt a 
v/h:ch has been greatly stimulated by the high prices 
ruling in America for China and Jap m Teas. While 
2,798,844 lb. were exported during 19U2, it is estimated 
that over 10 millions will be shipped this year; and 
there is every probability that, in future; Green Teas 
will become an important factor in the Tea Trade of 
Ceylon. 
The total exports for the year were, as par Cham- 
ber of Commerce Eeturus : — 
United Kingdom 
Australia 
Russia 
America 
Other Countries 
1901. 
103,54:3,932 
13,718,794 
11,727,008 
7,016,598 
7,934,854 
1901. 
105 734.570 
20,641,1^4 
9 6.58,896 
4.502,131 
5,767,237 
Total .. 148,991,241 146,299,018 
Totals for 1900 and 1899 : — 
1900 .. 118.431.039 
1899 . . 129,894,156 
The following figures show the quantity offered 
locally in public sala for the las; four years, with 
the average prices obtained for complete invoices 
sold : — 
1899 38,377,318 lb Average 38 cents 
1900 47,681,626 do do 34 do 
1901 51,044,0110 do do 33 do 
1902 55,835,478 do 
The following formed the Committee for 1902 — 
The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce (ex- 
olitcio). Buyers. — Messrs Tarrant, Henderson & Co.. 
Messrs Rodewald & Haalh, The Trading Co. (3nc- 
cessor to A G A K & Co.), F F Street. Esq. Sellers. 
Messera J M Robertson & Co., Messrs Whittall & 
Co., Messrs Bosanquet & Co., Messes George Steuarfc 
& Co. The number of members belouging to the 
Association i.? 45, same number as in the previous 
year. The accounts tor the past year made up to 
31st 'December, 1902 and submitted to vou duly 
audited, shew a credit balance in hand of Rl,564 34. 
Mt J A McGillivray deserves the thanks of ihe 
Association for his voluntary audit. 
THE CHAIRMAN'S SPEECH. 
The CHAIKMA.N said:— In risinp; to move the 
adoption of the report and sccounts for the past 
year I do not need to detain you long, fortu 
nately, because there is a considerable amount 
of business before us today. A retrospect of the 
past is always interesting, but it i.s the future 
towards which our eye.s continually turn and it 
is with great satisfaction 1 am able to congratu- 
late the Trade generally and producers, and 
sellers in particular, on the improved prospects 
ot the tea trade, though I am sorry UHUter 
has not enabled me to announce the eightpentiy 
average. We should soon be getting it as it is 
now in the immediate vicinity and, perhap's, belors 
long we may be able to top that figure even. 
The report before yon first treats of the question 
of the 
PR0.-5ECUTI0N OF MRLBOURNE TEA IMPORTKRS, 
which was a nvitter whic'i the Ciiamber of 
Commerce and also this Association has had 
before them, and it has been thoroughly ventilated 
in the local press. From a perusal of the volu- 
miaous documents sent u.s in connection witli 
the case, it seems evident that in the wording of 
one of the local Acts, tea was pronounced as unfit 
for human consumption if it contained anything 
over 8 per cent ash. The tea in question was 
alleged to have contained 8i per cent ash and 
constquenlly there was no course but to put 
it out anil that was done. I think we can depend 
on the tea dealers of Melbourne taking all the 
necessary stop.?. The Chamber of Commerce and 
this Association have not, however, lost sight of the 
matter and will act as they see best. It is a 
delicate question to interfere with the fiscal 
arrangements of any Colony, or appear to inter- 
fere with them. As regards the 
PATENT PACKAGES 
notice of a special resolution has been given for 
discussion at this meeting and I will not anti- 
cipate discussion on the matter. 1 would only 
say with regard to the resolution that there are 
v.-irious diHi.;ulties in the way when we bear in 
mind that the object of the steamship Com- 
panies is stricily to limit the amount in a tea 
chest to 100 lb net, and this resolution dses not 
adequately piovidefor that difliculty. That will 
DO doubt be tuliy di.'icussed. A similar remark 
might also be applied to the question of 
SAMPLING ALLOAVANCES 
in regard to which a special resolution will be 
brong!it forward. I think, however, there can be 
no doubt this resolution is brought forward in 
onfoimiiy with the growing reqnirements of the 
trade. There seems to be no doubt tliat the 
quantity sent to each buyer is inadequate to enable 
I'.im to arrive at a f lir valuation of the tea antl 
in these circumstances, speaking as a seller, I 
would be prepared to agree Co an increase in the 
(['.lantity, but whether tliat increase should be 
from 3 lb to 5 lb remains to be seen. As regards 
the paragraph in the report 
" FALSE PACKING " 
there is also a special resolution to be brought 
forward to deal with the matter, and I do not 
need to anticipate discussion on the matter. 
GREEN TEAS. 
The growth in the trade has been mist marked 
and most satisfactory. It is regrettable — I think 
this is a matter I referred to at last annual 
general meeting of the Association — that we do 
not seem to get the figures from the Cus 
toms to tally with tlie amount on which cess is 
paid by the Planters' Association, and I can only 
suppose that it is due to the carelessness of Firms, 
exporting clerk'^, or seme other reason. The differ- 
ence between green and black tea is not mentioned 
in the Bills of Lading, and I would ask you to 
assist us in getting accurate figures in by seeing 
that your subordinates discriminate in tiie Bills 
ot Lading between Gre'^n and Black Tea. 
— Proceeding next to deal with the 
TEA EXPORTS FOR THE YEAR 
the Chairman said : — We exported 2 million less 
to the United Kingdom and 2 million less 
to Australia, bat against this we sent 2 million 
more to Russia, 2.^ million more to America and 
2 million more to other countries. Taken in 
conjunction with the considerable increase over 
last year in the local sales is very gratifying. 
The local sales in Ceylon were daring 10i)2. 
million lbs. above that of UXH w liich was in turn 
3.J millious in excess of 1900. It is evident we 
