^^.n«iM 11.15 day'5lMH£i 
1902-1903. 
Tbe Planters' Association of Ceylon, 
FORTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT, 
Pi>kot! anJ Omnito Pckoc 
Ilrukcn Pokoc 
Bro. Pckoc tuid Dro. Or. Pi koo 
SoucIioik; anil Pckot Si.uditinj; . 
PckiH' SouchoDic 
Broken Pckof Sonchoni; nnd I 
Brukiin T«i anil Diixt 
Messrs. TIioidrii, Coc 
" Tho prefl<.'nt yt'ar opeiif 
for prodiiciTs ihivii for ( 
niiUAUY, 1903. 
ts tho Forty-Ninth Annual 'iltogetlier 
t'oylon for tho year ending 'Ji ot'ii^f c 
ao would congratiilQte ^J"" ^''^ 
vigorous prosecution of the Pro^pt 
ted for conBidoratioa and thie Seas* 
Tho Register of Estates ^"■,1'^: 
1 ,|,irmij the period under . _ 
\ , ,rfl aianda to-day ul 957 being the highest number 
I siucf ihi' BSlablishinent of the ABSociation on 17lh 
i' Ur'u'irv 
'donation celehration: address to ms 
^ majesty. 
« »f tlin Uin>pi«st eventB of the yenr, following almost 
°f , Iv «fS the DeclurUion of po..ce i« South Africa, 
i_"r.?^?'^rlrnluon of King Ed.nrd the, VH- ^ But^JoMhe 
„d prcijaraiioos wer., m;iu« on ii most mugni 
lb. 0 
•a, aiiU i£ expecta ii 
diity.freH artic: ' 
ovidenced by 
V York, are 
article of daily 
Ne' 
1 p;ii 
Low 
liht deniiindi 
f aup|dy, itnd it is to he 
.dually placing tea on an 
Hequiremeiita are extending 
f iiicreasud consamp- 
U. S. A. are realized, 
ch hfavier shipments 
isiinctly good. A reduction 
uld certainly afford 
the Coronati 
King's most distr.ss>L 
tho atitb June «" i l>r-r^-^---^^^ to cdehrute th. 
ficenl scale in e ^ ^^^^n ,^,^3 n„t made pnblic 
''"SSS .he £ «u"vhen it became certain th'at tho 
mild "'"'"^V' p ' ,,.,tion mtifif bo postitoned. London was 
ceremony '^'^'"'^^^^.jjjgQj hitt'rested spectators to whom 
iZHl of his^Majeaty s sul.jects in evory part of his Dominions 
Sinews of his danger-'^ , ^^'P^ ^ "I'P''"'"^ 
[no , . ■ ^sponenced when the news was 
C.,on.t,o,. 7" '» '™ l,„„or«l by Ihe ...lecnon of 
J West Kklg.w.y to roptesml the E».ter.. 
The Dnofficial 
J also invited to visit 
i tmtl soiu.? of tlieni 
i„„|j proud of tlio cUo.co ami of tlio n 
Eh Juli» of th. liosition «tt« fttlbl 
MSmbmoftlie Uslsl"!'™ 
TlSt R0J.ll HiibnossOTlho Prince iiiid Princess of Wale, on 
teb fol fbo King, vvbo tbcn looiUto rec.iv. and 
on thi. occasion yonr reptesentat.ve in Oounc.l Mi^. J. S. 
Campbell b.d the honor of presentrne jo.ir loyal iddre.s for 
,b„ Loptanc, of Hi, Majesty tb. Ivng. The Colony vv. 
atther represented by a dotaeh.neut o! 3 Oir.cets and 100 men 
Klected from the Jillercnt branches of tin, Volnnteet Force 
hclmlins 25 from the Oejlon Monntod Infainry and alike 
no nber from the Ceylon Planters' liiilo Corps the whole being 
nnJer the Command of Major A. J. Far<iuliarsoii Commandinf 
Ih. Ceylon Planters' Uille Cori>s. The postponement of the 
Coniwlion till Angosl and tho abandoninent for a time of the 
Creal urocusaion through London, robbed I 
Sf etr«ctiran popntargpectaclc. bnt 
1 what look plac ■' ' 
ol s 
those who took part in 
oUection of tho enthusiasm 
do will ever remain as a tesiiniony to Ibeir subdoed 
'nir'heanfeit reli.-t when they rL-alUed .hat the King'. 
_„Jalth hud been eo f^ir restored as to enable the desite o£ all 
^ia aubjects' hearts to be gratified. In Kandy the great event 
celebrated on the 21si August, 1902, when the "Victoria 
Commemoration BuUdings" and "George Wall Tower were 
" lely decorated and at night illuminated by a Electrical 
PLANTING PRODUCTS. 
terial indnceiuout to a wider demand. The stocks of Chi 
tea in that country are however at the moment abnormally 
large. Tea Sbarcb have recently been attracting some atten- 
tion. Holders are however now showing increased confidence, 
and it is somewhat difficult to buy at market qnoiations. The 
Preference shares of many coacerns mark a considerable 
advance in valne. There is some natural expectation of a 
lever Tea Duty and this can hardly fail to affect our market 
dnnng the next three months, Ae producers probably paid 
the largest share of the last increase, they would doubtless 
find a corresponding relief in any reduction ; consumption 
and especially waste must naturally be enlarged by a lower 
coat to tho public. In this connection it may be home in 
mind that under tho prevailing conditions of tho lust three 
years, an increased duty could not inuni'diately affect the 
home-consumption; a Season's produciion and consumption 
must within certain narrow limits corrospond. price being the 
v.iryinpandadjnHting element. Turning to the Future, should 
the anticipation of better prices during the Spring bo realized, 
the inducement to pluck coarse and thereby turn ont'a lar^e 
crop will doubtless present itself to tho grower. Before 
manufacture can however be in any weight, tho position will 
have further developed, and it will ha well for producers to 
then carefully estimate the world's probable consumption and 
also hear in mind tho disastroufl' consequences of the 1900 
out-turn. Various causes, direct and indirect, have contri- 
buted towards restricting "this Season's production; had not 
however weather conditions tended to unexpecledly check 
manufacture during the later months, it is to he feared that 
out-turn would have proved in excess of requirements, and 
the laat few million pounds would have resulted in supply 
always continuing rather ahead of demand. It must be borne 
in mind that a high price for common tea may again attract 
large shipments of China Congon during the summer months ; 
exports from China to TJ. K. have steadily fallen during the 
past year under pressure of the competition from cheap Indian 
Hud Ceylon tea, and the declining stock of this class constitutes 
at tho present moment a strong factor in our market. It would 
however be unsafe to assume that this procc's.s must under all 
circumstancefi coutinne ; a hi^blHlce for Indian and Ceylon 
loaf in coniunction with the equiMent of a ninepenny rupee 
in China could hardily faU to iudjBb heavier Congou import, 
the more so tbat many lai^r© diambmhig concerns ore mamly 
dependpnt for their business on low-priced tea. Ceylon must 
also bf reckoned with in other markets, allhough the opiuii 
tow lots of really pure red which are now put on the Market 
command escoptional prioee. ■ The-stiocba in London are Bmallex 
than they have been for' several years. Your Association at a 
General Meeting on the 1th November, 1!)02. unanimously 
adopted a resolution brought forward by the Chairman of the 
Matalo Planters' Association asking for special legislation for 
tho protection of Cacao crops, by an extension ot the Praedial 
Products Ordinance to cover ripe Cacao on the same lines as the 
protection t;iveu to Cincbono by tho Ordinance No. 22 o£ 188G, and 
similar to tho protection given to Cacao in Grenada and Vanilla 
in Mauritius. Tho objection to a purely Recoivera Ordinance is 
that both in India and Grenada such Ordinances have been proved 
failures. It ia stated that in India this is duo to the difficulty of 
reaching tho owners ot small gardens; and this is precisely the 
difficulty which arises in Ceylon. His Excellency Sir West Ridge- 
Way wishes to appoint a Commission of inquiry. Assuming that 
this is necessary it is difficult to underetacd the very considerable 
delay which has taken place in getting the business in hand. 
Acconling to Messre. C. M. and C. Woodhouse's annual 
report, the nine chief consuming countnes. as tar as the latest 
.figures procurable show, consumed 229.450,200 lUs. ot cocoa, 
against 209.771 000 lbs. last year, and lGrt,G-26.800 lbs. in IBJa, 
' per cent in the five years, ihe live 
largest c< 
J thus 
1902. 
1901. 
• Esl.iiiiat«l 
19 
lUiDiitiou in th<? n. K. 
in 12 inontliB, S0,9 
k „ Slut Deo. 4,3 
38,OH,700 Brj,S09,(}00 
Months. 
Jan nary 
February 
March 
May 
July 
August 
September 
October 
December 
Jannary 
February 
March 
May 
June 
July 
Augnat 
■ Seplemher 
October 
November 
December 
The large 
way 6 
«,013 
8.687 
10,723 
1H,120 
12,91)2 
14.ti26 
58/ GH/ liB/ 7r./ Ii?; ri; 7,-,/ 82/ 
Kelani Valley and Uda Pi 
Dtures 
3,007 
6,S92 . 
4.938 
7,585 
5,794 
8.818 
8.289 
4,456 
10,91)2 
3,9h"6 ; 
10.5-23 
7,717 
11,113 
t;.492 
3,920 
11,597 
6,G58 
2,892 
2.049 
7,939 
2,434 
5,',!43 
2,929 
reaae in 1900 -waa due 
that year. 
tly ho se 
free, on tl 
70/. -iD/ 75/ 
Cejloa -. aiill to gi 
63/ 76/ Ca/ 77/ 
W 601 
69/ fil/ 
GS/ 8S/ 5C/ 35/ 
CARDAMOMS. 
Tho cultivation of this product continues to attract tho 
attention of Kuropean and Native Cultivators and has lately 
been added to the Experimental p^roduots - n.„.,.«.„.«f. 
Experiment Station at Peradeniyi 
area in Ooylon devoted to ~ 
the largoc 
na/ fifi/ KOI G7/ 73/ facilities for proci 
;oolie 
• B.iok" 
ted for c 
tho Qovomment 
believed that the total of nthi 
Cardainom Cultivation is probably 10,000 Tour Comi 
Matale and Moilamahanuwi" " 
meet Ihe present demand for i 
during the year and considered the general question of laboi 
and new legislation. Their report, which " 
oulatioii and will bo included in the 
against asking for fresh legislation in 
stringent onlinaiice would be- unlikely I 
of the Indian GoviTumiuit, and if sanctii 
tend to keep labour away from Ceyloi 
iting I " 
1 Sou the 1 
the folio' 
above mentioned r 
" The labour 
annually, and dur 
Superintendents i 
ing parii 
display. 
ig ground I 
is about the maxiu 
been coming forw; 
results have we beli 
is at (he moment si 
bulk of the^ ChJ 
America, 
causing e 
I this c 
intry 
Tea has 
ties, and 
r market 
Tea. 
the p'jst year's supply 
we may expect here, ure 
this Soiisoa in small qua; 
proved fairly satisfactory ; 
what favorirable for these classes, the 
reea crop i having been absorbed by 
The Labour question ih India would appear to be 
producers; many gardens are 
■ - ■ - luppiy, 
The piist Eeason has been on tho whole 
yield, A drimght in the early part and an 
during tho last three months of tbo year, ace 
falling considtmbly abort of the estimate, hi 
! notwiibstanding the largest 
nfavonrable for 
jtcosMve rainfall 
int for the crop 
total shipments 
markets however continue to expand, so that shipments to the 
United Kingdom were 2,000,000 lbs. less than the previous 
year, and 10,000,000 lbs. less than 1900, when Ceylon and 
India over supplied the Home Tr^de to the extent of 20,000,000 
lbs. The average price of Ceylon lea sold in London during 
J903 was fljd. per lb., further decline of Jth of a penny, as 
compared with previous year, and Id. per lb. less than 1899, the 
last season of normal slocks. The quality has been cn the 
whole good, and the poor prices obtained can only be attributed 
n ohiaining an adequate 
i is dufl to official resti 
the' practical con.'iequence of 
lUSt be a smaller yield. Ii may be well 
ctive figures of the ndxt three months, 
SB bear comparison with recent years, 
1 of stocks afford any guide to the 
^ difficulty i 
huf it is not°clear how far thi 
to purely economic " 
defective cultivation n 
to touch on the prospect 
as deliveries will in no \* 
neither will a comparist 
actual condition of trade , 
duty clearances will not only bo normal, but with the ne^r 
approach of the Budget statement will be kept down to daily 
requirements. By the end of March we shall probably fand 
thai our bonded stock nearly approaches the total supply of 
tea throughout the Kingdom. The dispute with regard to 
Gun Wharf is now bo far settled that penalties are no longer 
imposed by the Clearing House upon dealings with thia 
house. London Wa" ' o. ..,».,„ ti 
■ehousB Retunifl give the total import 
to the large stocks carried forward from 1901. The position dnrinc the past year at, 283,000,000 lbs. 
. 1 11^ Inl<,l ulnnL-a n. H,«. „„n ii nll..l ,1 ..1 -ni^^r. ■Idl 
gradually improving, total slocks at Ihe end of 
1902 being 8,000,000 lbs. less than at the beginning of the year. 
The moat enconraging feature at the present moment ia 
the rapidly increasing manufacture and demand for Ceylon 
green lea. Commencing slowly in 1898, the manufaciure rose to 
500,000 lbs. in 1900, 1,600,000 lbs. in 1901, and 4,000,000 lbs,,* 
last eeason. Thia rate of increase appears likely to continue 
during the coming year, and will very materially assist in the 
further reduction of Ihe stocks of black tea. 
The new year therefore opens with brighter prospects, bnt 
the future depends largely on Ihe present style of careful 
plucking being maintained, and shi|>mentB to London con- 
tinuing on a moderate scale. The last two years have been 
unfavourable flushing seasons in both India and Oeylon, there 
is also a considerable acreage not yet in full bearing, ao that 
the maximum output from cither country has not yet been 
reached. Your UommiUee do not thi/refore consider that the 
pushing of ■ Ceylon teas in new markets can at present be 
As usual your Gommitl^e with due acknowledgment ex- 
tracts from the remarks of London Brokers for perusjl, reference 
and comparison the following;— Messrs. Wil"Oii,Suiithelt& Co., 
obeerve tbat the BOARD OF Trauc KliTURS.S f. r Ihe year just 
closed fully jnelify the more ojitiiuistic views lately entertained 
as to the future of the tea market. The total Imports for the 
year were rather below thiise of lOnl, vi/.,, 294,557,000 lbs., 
against 295,26J,000 lbs,, whilst Ddtv PayMKKTS aggregated 
254,440,000 lbs., against 2.io,(473,0OO lbs., in 1901, when the 
clearances, unlike those of last ye:ir, w<.-rt.- in excess of 
the actual Home Coksdmption ; ({<•■ ['A-a K\\wyts reached 
45,490,000 lbs. against 43,389.000 \h... \„ ib>- |in-viou8 year. 
Tho real Strength of the atatisiiciil jio-^iMou is, however, mode 
most apparent when compared witJi that existing at the close 
of 1698, prior to the last important advance in the value of 
common tea, when after a long period of low prices, distributora 
suddenly found themselves face to face with depleted STOCKS, 
and little likelihood of a too liberal supply in the near future. 
In 1898 the total JuPOBTS AND DELIVERIES (Home Cou- 
BDmpIion and Exports) practically balanced, the former 
amonnting to 271,581.000 Jha. and (he latter to 271,749,mii lbs, 
and the total STOCK ;it the close of tho year was 99.476000 lbs. 
To-day the total STOCK of Tea in ILe U. K. ia 107,7tiU,000 lbs. 
agaiuHl 115,685,000 lbs. at the close of 1901). but the 
monthly Deliveries bavp risen from 2L',646,00O lbs. in 
189« to 25.000.000 lbs. last year, and Ihe total IMPORTS last 
pared with 
291,000,000 lbs. Total deliveries we 290,000,000 Ibe. (in- 
cluding 31..i00.000 lbs, British ^rown for export) against 
291,000,000 lbs. (including 31,.5ue,O00 lbs. British grownl in 
the previous year. Our total bonded stock is 8,000,000 lbs 
less than twelve months ago. The consumption of Indian and 
Ceylon tea in other Countries shows an increase of some 
11,000,000 lbs. during the past twelve months." , , ^ , 
Messrs. Forbes & Walker, Colombo, slate that thMo al 
Exports for 1902 were 149,017,018 lbs. against 146,72G,0bG lbs. 
in 1901 mstributed as nnder. 
Tea Distribution from Ist January to Slst December, 190- 
Othtr 
!0,f;"je,9i 
J Chum ni 
Singnpu 
13,907 
The following shew an incrciise over 1901; Africa, 
America, Austria. Belgium, China, Germany, Ualy, Malta, 
Mauritius, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and Turkey; 
while Australia, France, Holland, India and tho United King- 
dom shew a duoreaae. ' 
• Acc«r<lin" to Ibe Thirty CommiU..(. n.tiiru.i |,16(,0I7 Ibfl. of Qreen 
have hixn maun foe tared m ailditiua t« these 
TM BLIGHTS. 
Till lately the Tea Bushes ha- 
blight. 
AddlDK ihil the 
effect oD finoa gtttimiij. 
yUOTATlONa. 
l,gfKi very free of either 
if the last three 
' ul ihi-f blights 
in 'some DieVriotri I'mt 'ii"oi'''l''i'i">''^"'iii-' u:.rur.-. Ht-lopeltis 
as'iaS'." It"i'6 to "be !egrvu..'d ilii|ll,',. Toririx li;.s been very 
much in evidence in one or more D.alnula. AdvanUige ia freely 
taken by I'lanlera of the advice ao willingly placed at their 
dit^posal by the Scientists at Peradenija. 
CACAO. 
The croii Bbipi>ed for the year was cwt. (!I,47G against cwt. 
47 471 in L901, and is the largest crop yet shipped from Ceylon, 
It 'would have been considerably larger Imt for the very unfavour- 
able wi:atber of the last throe inonlhg of tJjQ yenr. Continuous 
nil!) oiii""-'i " rtcrudesccnce of Canker csiiecially amongst the 
according to Ferguson's Directory which gives Jo of tho 52 
divisions ot Districts as now growing Cardamoms, whdo many ot 
the Nativo Gardens have their small patch under this product. 
Tho crop shipped during 1902 was 615,922 lbs. and but for tho 
prolonged wot weather during tho last quarter, it would in all 
probability have boon much larger. The difficulty of curing on 
the estates in wot weather delayed despatch, and led to largo 
quantities being cured in Colombo. The shipment during tho togeth. 
eariier montha of 1903 will be heavier and in consequence add tundu 
considerably to its crop despatch account. Prices have been 
Qoneraliy lower than hist yaar, but Cardamom Growers who are 
fully aware of the danger of the supply exceeding tho demand, 
will it is expected take steps for making thoir produce better 
known thraughout the world. The Estimate of Crop for 1003 is 
650,000 lbs. 
COCONUTS. 
Tho year 1902 has been another good year for owners ot Coco- 
nut property. Tho Chambor of Commerce returns of Exporis of 
Produce for 1902 show that the Export of Coconut Oil cwts. 612,498; 
of Desiccated Coconuts 16,227,665 lbs. ; of Poonac cwts. 247,696 ; 
and Coir Ropo owts. 15,631 have been the largest within the last ten 
veara Copra cwts. 874,790 hasdeclined by cwt.s. G5,000; Coconuts 
by 2 800 000 aud Fibre by about cwts. 7,000. Germany has been 
Ceylon's best customer for Copra, and Poonac ; and Franco the 
next best for Copra, The United Kingdom took most of the 
Coconut Oil, Desiccated Coconuts, and Coconuts m shell ; Amenca 
being second in Coconut Oil, and Deaiociitod Coconuts; India is 
only third in Coconut Oil. With the small exception of cwts. 277, 
all the Coir rope was taken by Singapore- Tho pnco ot Copra for , 
six months varied from Rs. 61 to Rs. G3 per Candy, and for fmir of Itnmigrati 
montha from Es. 5G to Rs. 58. In November and December there - ' 
was a decided fall to Es. 51, a difference of Rs. 10 to K 
Candy from that niling in January. Coconut Oil mostly rose and 
fell in sympathy being Rs. 4 per cwt. less in December than it was 
in January. Desiccated Cocoannts was hiirly steady from 20 ots. 
to ''2 eta i>er lb. Poonac which was Rs. 75 per ton from January 
to March kept firm @ Rs. 80 for tho rest of the year Upon the 
whole therefore prices have been satisfactory. Tho fact that 
Contracts for tho year ® Ba. 50 per Candy of Copra have been 
made-and rumour says at even higher rates-would tend to 
indicate that the present declino in prices is not likely to continue. 
It is satisfactory to note the increaamg consumption of Cpconuts 
in the manufacture of Coconut Butter, though probably most of 
tho nuts used are from the Philippines and West Indies ; and it 
is much more satisfactory to hear that the " Premier lea Com- 
pany ot Ceylon-— largely interested in Coconut property— is 
sending out an expert, with the necessary plant to. erect Buildings, 
etc to Manufacture Coconut Butter on tho spot. Your Commit- 
tee has not heard of any large plantations having been opened m 
1902, but !3 informed that low-country Natives are now planting 
up Coconuts in their Cheenas, which before, after taking off 
grain Crops, they allowed to revert to jungle. This wiU no 
Soubt in time throw more nuts on Warket- So far as ram fall 
is concerned the year, throughout the Island, has been favourable, 
and good Crops may bo expected in 1903. Your Committee 
congratulates owners ot Coconuts on tho present satisfactory 
condition of their staple. Experiments are being tried on a large 
scale of growing tbo sensitive plant and burying it as a manure, 
and so tar with marked satisfactory results, The further progress 
of this experiment will bo watched with great interest. 
RUBBER. 
This product continues to receive increasing attention, parti- 
cularly in tho low-countrv, whore it is being .planted in all Estate 
swamps and ravines. It has not yet been determined what is the 
highest elevation at which it can be grown to pay, but trees are 
known to be making strong growth in places at an elevation ot 
over 2 500 (t. Exports of cured rubber are steadily increasing, for 
tho year ending 3l3t December, lOO'J, amounts to liS9 cwts. 
The prices realised have been vory satisfactory, 1 ara biscuit tiaving 
been sold as high as 4/4d. per lb. and cured scrap ■-'/W.W. The de- 
mand for seed still continues. large, orders have been booked both 
for export and local planting during the coming season. 
TOTAL EXPORTS FROM CEYLON DURING THE 
YEAR 1901. 
Your Committee as usual invites attention to Appendix A. 
hereto annexed for official statements of Exports from Ceylon 
during 1002, for which your thanks are due to the Hon ble Mr. 
H. L. Crawford. The return is useful for reference and com- 
parison with similar data made up to tho same period by the 
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, which follows as Appendix B. 
LABOUR SUPPLY. 
f the Official Retu 
.luestion, ia one form 
ng the busy months a 
iiust be prepared to 
high pressure durii 
ificienty of I: 
■ lly employed dui 
If the planting comiii 
work under dillicultiy 
ng these month?, as 
Imean more than couh 
eat of the yc(.r." 
, the bolter 
employ n 
hia last employer, n 
factory refen^u 
instances of bolting •■ 
I thank Go 
should 
at (he 
You I 
appends abstraeti 
) of coolies 
PfiiJe com. 
FrkoB uul OrftDlI!« Pekoe Rdq 1 
Brikm rekot cum. 
liro. PcluiF aad Ilru. Or. PcIkh: finv I 
fikiDdlonitalli] Pckoo tkiiKdifng ixiw. 
Pi-kw BoiKjhtmit lliii- 
Brokni FokjW' 8oii(*ou(f,wiJ IVki 
DtokuiTosuul Diut 
Cni»l"'i of till- pod is the 
tlMil Ciiciiu Planters have 
bi'irij' carried out by Gov 
gn'ateat interest to them, 
effective remedy will bo found, and ilthi 
Ceylon Cocao wdl very largely 
the trees is now pretty generally 
precautions taken, together with IL. 
Foritatoro varieties tor tbo red, hav.. 
dangerous than it was. Prices havi,' i 
your imd it is satisfactory to note Ihiw 
is now going etcodily into coq^umplici: 
aeroj severely in conseqiu 
serioiia agricultural difficulty 
we, and tb6 experiments now 
it at Oangaroowa are of the 
to be hoped that a cheap and 
H done tho Crops of 
ling with Canker of 
l,y I'liinters anil the 
Eughiud, whilst tho December 
Ar'vals 
9,211 
12,100 
Ar'vals 
26,909 
35,010 
23,435 
22,946 
15,0n8 
14,363 
11,723 
10.427 
10,087 
theikangaiiy i 
pean' emplovf 
to obtain empioyiu 
gliing would bo few." 
^l^rhe Tin ticliet system appears to be working woll and m 
time no doubt will be in more general vl6o. IfthesyBtem 
coidd be extended to Southern Indian railway stations,, tho 
risk of sending money to the coast would be still furthet 
miuimi/ed. Tho tin ticket svatem, whilst lessening the amount 
of advances now required to be sent to the coaat for vecrmt- 
ihg' purposes; does not dispense with tlu 
kangany system. Your Comiuittee desires 
ment for acceding to its request that the tin ticket 
only be used bv cooliea coming from the coast. 
The revised regulations will be found in appendix 
There have been two meetings of the Committei 
Labour Federation of Ceylon during the year. 
SUPERINTENDENT OP IMMIGRATION. 
■ By the death of Mr. C. H. Wilkinson late Sup«rihtei),dent 
ion your Association was deprived of ;tb.e services 
>nced and competent Officer and your Committee 
of Rs. 10 to Rs. 11 per accorded a vote of condolence to Mrs. Wilkinson. A-S^regards 
se and the new Superintendent vour Committee has invited Govern- 
ment to acquaint tlie Planters' Association when a,smiilar 
appointment may be under consideration, with a view to sulj- 
mUting the recomraendalion of your Association m the matter 
for His Excellency the Governor's approval. 
RUSSIAN TEA TRADE-BRITISH EXHnJITION 
ST. PETERSBURG. 
In connection with the important Russian Tea Trade your 
Committee learned with regret during the year that the British 
Exhibition at St. Petersburg would not take place. It is worthy 
of ricord that Russia which, in the year 1890, according to the 
Cevtoi CuBtonia Ileturn took ojily 80 lbs. of Ceylon tea in that 
year imported direct from Colombo during the year ending 31st 
DecBubor, 1902, no less than 12.560,856 Iba. 
CUSTOMS DUTIES ON TEA AND OTHER PRODUCTS 
ENTERING FRANCE FROM COUNTRIES WHICH ■ 
DO NOT ENJOY MOST FAVOURED - 
NATION TREATMENT. . 
The nuestion of Increased Customs Duties on Tea and Other 
Products euteriu" Fiance from Countries which do not enjoy 
Mn=i Favoured Nation Treatment has continuea to occupy the 
Coiiiiuittee. It wiU be iu your rocollcetiou that 
of tbo 2-tth February, 19UU, on the subject Wits 
ar aud since then it has been intimated that the 
lit has issued a decree extending the aiiplicatioH 
L'ariff to Ceylon until 2:ird February, 19iJ3. Ac- 
■letiiry of States despatch of 19th August, 19(12, 
follows:— In return fpr the Grant by the Fienoh 
Cevin, of the houelits of the iiiiniuuim i/p'ii' i il '. 'hIi iIi. (.h 
m^eij of Coyio^^^^^^^^^ ' ' ,' " , ' 
Sning^Ce'jdou'iire approaching a satisfact-o eoudu.iou. 
TEA TRADE IN JAPAN, 
rhi-ough the good Offices of tho Ceylon Chaluber of Com., 
- , ^t,„„ li<..„oi ts by the British Consul at Vokobuma upoi 
X iv!: mlus and by the Britiah Consul a Amoy o 
Smo Tea Industry were obtained and <=;;-^;'lf ^^^^^^^ 
operition in tlio matter. 
FREIGHT 
■ of Froi-ht to Austraiia ami 
. - „t umler the notice of your Committee and it would 
Colombo to Aiistmiia amou iicu ' , ,,„. ,,ni,ud the argo 
if th* rate of freight could be reduced to V ■ I ^ 
■ capable of heiug stdl further b"^'^ 0 
■ -' Ceylon tea very nmteiiall) . 
i,.ht charge to Australia is 
Community and should n 
atteitioti of your ■ 
the French Law 
svisptnded for a ye 
FroDOh Govurunie 
of tie Minimum 'J 
cording to the Sec 
the (osition is lis 
" ^ffuiuent 
appttr 
5 ISlliO, 
AUSTRALIA. 
[iiaterial 
8,187 
10,678 
13,214 
11,473 
11,.')80 
8,647 
8,020 
9,993 
7.975 
8,773 
9.211 
21.311 
37,-l06 
Ar'vula 
fi4,'315 
99,355 
122,700 
145.736 
161,394 
76.757 
187,480 
11)7,907 
207,994 
8,187 
18,865 
82,079 
48,652 
63,799 
doaU the question of fi 
intcRst to the Planters '-"■"■""""J ""^ am.vn to comp^ 
of. The""«-'.'-".S''nmS^^ ^'-iP--'^^ «^ 
SS'lfa t ac^^^^^^^ nature of the pack agcB 
Sdta« I)artic,llarly those ^I co'mtry mao.i iietniv. 
nondmc« was made public and it is hoped h,,i '"'^ 
desitierated has taken P'«*- "^'l?^ ; .. "l..,lthe 
relabar. toabipmeotot teato Australia join ^.^^^^^^ 
local Agents of the Principal Linet^ , „ ' i 
. to packai. 
71,799 lOOlbs. nott to 190 lbs. gross 
■eport that the rojily ' 
Wi.lwl tlmt the maltiT 
I for Austraha. 
98,540 
105,fil6 
112,936 
^COWiugfy"i't W^ Sed that the 1 
noti» of the Ceylon Association in i. 
has been that the Agn 
iiita\ 
rahle and 
