Oct. 1, 1899.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
275 
To the Editor. 
PLANTEKS' ASSOCIATION OF CEYLON. 
RUSSIAN DUTIES ON TEA. 
Sir,— I enclose for publication copy of a coni- 
muuication received from Government on the 
subject of the duties levied on Tea by the Russian- 
Government. — I am, sir, yours faithfully, 
W. D. GIBBON, PER H. W. Gavin. 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, 25 Aug. 1899. 
SiK,— Adverting te'my letter of the 17th, January 
1899, forvfarding for the information of the 
Planters' Association, a copy of a Despatch 
frocD the Secretary of State for the Colonies to- 
gether with a copy of a communication from Her 
Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg, on the 
subject of the duties levied on Tea by the Russian 
Government, I am directed by His Excellency the 
Lieut. Governor to forward for the information of 
your Association, a copy of a despatch, received 
through the Secretary of State, from Her Majesty'.^ 
Ambassador at St. Petersburg to the Marquess of 
Salisbury reporting certain alterations in the duties 
payable on imported tea under the Russian Customs 
Tariff. — I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) J. J. Thorbubn, 
for Colonial Secretary. 
\_Copy Iteferred to.} 
St. Petersburg, July 12th, 1899j 
My Lobd, — I have the honor to report that ac- 
cording to a decision of the Council of the Empire, 
passed on the 4/16 June, 1899, and published in the 
Bulletin of Laws of the 25th June — 7th July, 1899, 
the following alteration under the Russian Customs 
Tariff in respect of the duty payable on tea arc 
decreed : — 
1 Brick Tea, Black and Green, imported into 
Pussia, across the European frontier to pay duty at 
the rate of 11 Roubles, 25 Copecks per poud (former 
duty 31 Roubles 50 Copecks per poud.) 
2. Black, flower, green and yellow teas imported 
at the frontiers of the Steppe, Irkutsk and Cis-Amur 
Governor-Generalship's to pay duty at the rate of 22 
Roubles 50 Copecks per poud. (Former duty 19 
Roubles 50 Copecks per poud.) 
"With the completion of the Russian Lines of rail 
to the Pacific the rates of duty on tea will be subject 
to further consideration.— I have, &c., 
(Signed) Charles S. Scott, 
The Marquess of Salisbury, k g., &c., &c., &c. 
In terms of the first part of the resolution I transmit 
herewith printed copies of the correscondence that 
passed between a member of the Committee (Mr. E. J. 
Young) and some of the leading London Brokers 
which probably t® a certf-in extent inclined the Com- 
mittee to take the view expressed in the resolution to 
which you draw attention. I also hand you extract of 
a speech made by the Chairman, Planters' Association 
on the subject at the annual general meeting. 
It may be added for further guidance that the 
Committee of the Planters' Association hesitates to 
support an agitation for abolition of the Duty on the 
ground that there would be no check on teas entered 
for home consumption and that without this check, the 
market might be flooded with rubhisli teas, which it 
is understood under present conditions are stopped at 
the Customs. There is also some doubt whether a 
reduction of the Duty would directly benefit the con- 
sumer and would not chieHy benefit the low priced 
Teas of China and other competing countries. — I am, 
Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) A. PHILIP, 
Secretary to the Planters' Association of Ceylon. 
EESOLUTION EEl'ERKED TO. 
"That for the guidance of the India Tea Association, 
copies of the correspondence that passed between Mr. 
E. 0. Young and the London Brokers be forwarded 
with connected papers, and that the India TeaAsso- 
ciation be asked if they will favor the Planters' Associa- 
tion with a full expression of the viev/s of the India 
Tea Association in support of the opinion so strongly 
held that the total abolition of the English Import Duty 
should be agitated for." 
THE PROPOSED ABOLITION OF THE 
ENGLISH TEA DUTY. 
Kandy, August 2(5. 
Sir, — 1 enclose copies of some correspondence rc 
the abolition of the English Tea Duty, which will 
no doubt be of interest to your readers. — Yours 
faithfully, 
W. D. GIBBON, 
Per. H. W. Gavin, 
Aetin" Secretary to the Planters' Association of 
Ceylon. 
Kandy 23rd May, 1899. 
The Secretary, Indian Tea Association, Royal 
Exchange Building, Calcutta. 
Dear Sir,— Adverting to my letter of the 14th 
ultimo, I now herein annex for your information and 
guidance copy of Resolution passed by the Com- 
mittee at a recent meeting when your letter was 
considerecl. 
Indian Tea Association, Royal Exchange Building, 
No. 463—0. Calcutta, 17th August. 
The Secretary, Ceylon Planters' Association. 
ABOLITION OP THE ENGLISH IMPORT DUTY. 
Deak Sir, — 1 am directed by the General Committee 
of the Indian Tea Association to address you, in 
continuation of my No. 334-0., of 16th June, and with 
reference to your letter of 23rd May, on the above 
question. 
The resolution passed by your Committee, and the 
papers to which it refers, have had their attention. 
In giving expression to the views held by my Com- 
mittee It will, I think, be convenient to first of all deal 
with the points referred to in your papers. 
The reasons given for the attitude taken up by your 
Committee may, I think, be summarised as follows : — 
1. That abolition will remove all check upon teas 
entered for consumption and that thus the market 
might be flooded with " rubbishy " teas, 
2. That reduction or abolition might chiefly benefit 
low-priced teas from China. 
3. That the time is not propitious for agitating the 
question. 
In regard to the first objection I am to point oat 
that whether an article of food is dutiable or not it is 
subject to the same laws in respect of its fitness 
for human consumption. Abolition would not re- 
move any of the checks imposed as obstacles to 
adulteration so far as the law goes, and the question 
resolves itself therefore into this : as to whether or 
not the Customs no longer having to careftilly weigh 
the tea would relax their vigilance, and whether, if 
they did, other checks in existence, or which might 
readily be introduced if required, would not operate 
suffieienlly. Is there any reason to suppose that 
adulterated tea would escape detection when other 
imported non-dutiable foods do not ? One does not 
hear complaints on this score in connection with 
grain, cheese, butter, eggs, tinned provisions, and so 
on, and my Committee think the objection is hardly 
worth considering. They observe, however, that you 
use the word "flooded " in connection with the ex- 
pression " rubbishy teas," and they think you may 
include under the adjective " rubbishy," teas that 
are not adulterated in any way, but merely extremely 
poor. If so, they would ask you whether these come 
into the question at all. My Committee are under 
the impression that tea, however poori so long as it 
