Nov. 1, 1899.] THE TKOPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
343 
To the Editor. 
THE 4-D IMPORT DUTY ON TEA. 
Dear Sir, — As a regular reader of the Ceylon 
papers and being deeply interested in your island's 
chief industry, I feel compelled to notice some 
points wherein the local opinion difl'ers materially, 
from that held by those residents in Ensrland. 
First, I will take the 4d import duty upon 
tea into Great Britain, for it seems to be the 
opinion in Ceylon that by reducing or abolish- 
ing this, that the market will at once be flooded 
with common foreip-n teas, and there also appears 
to be an idea that the last reduction by Mr. 
Goschen's, tended to lower prices to the pro- 
ducer, in some unexplained manner. It is very 
difficult to understand how sucli opinions have 
been formad. 
A country pronounces a decided preference for 
a certain class of teas and this has most deci- 
dedly shown itself in Britain for those of a British 
growth. Reduce the duty and I fail to see how 
the taste will be in any way altered. It is 
a distinctive choice between two classes of tea. 
The duty as above referred to came down 2d, yet 
the relative position of China, as against British 
frown, has in no way altered except to the further 
detriment of the former. 
A family drinks either, tea, coffee or, cocoa ; 
and It is reasonable to suppose that any reduction 
of the duty on tea would mean a falling off in 
the consumption of the other two articles. It is 
generally stated that during the past two years, 
cocoa has been much more extensively used, and 
that even coffee is obtaining more attention ; 
attributable no doubt to their present cheapness. 
To my mind the position of these three articles 
will always be depended upon their relative 
cheapness, and according to this, they will either 
individually give way, or, supersede one another. 
It is entirely an economic question. "When tea 
and coffee forty years ago more nearly equalled 
one another in price, their relative consumption 
■was more equal ; now tea is so much cheaper, it 
has outrun coffee. In like manner the coarsest 
plucked Ceylon and Indian would always 
undersell cheap China, from the fact that the 
latter needs more to make a cup ; each pound 
of which will have to pay duty. In other words, 
to make a gallon of tea, China tea will have to pay 
fifty per cent more duty. 
1 have not the data to go fully into the ques- 
tion just now, but would it not be fairer to 
consider British-grown teas, as instead of being 
opposed only against China, as arranged against 
China tea, cocoa and coffee 1 You, Mr. Editor, 
have figures that could show the relative con- 
sumption of all these in the British isles, the 
subject could thus be considered in its wider 
light, for they are without doubt all convertible 
articles, according to economic value, I believe. 
Political economists one and all tell us that 
reduction of price increases use ; so without doubt 
the reason why consumption has doubled within 
the last 30 years is that the sale price has gone 
down to less than half, helped in a measure by 
lower duties. It is quite inconceivable to an eco- 
nomist, that any other result can ensue. 
If there be a want in London, it is a greater 
nuanimity of opinion among producers, as 
against distributers and consumers, notwithstand- 
ing \vliat may be 5a,id to the contrary, It is no- 
body's business at present, so the individual and 
proverbial sticks are broken singly. For instance, 
last year a large quantity of inferior China tea 
was rejected from entry into America, as unfit for 
hitman food which promptly found its way into 
London, where it was sold, distributed and con- 
sumed, without molestation, there being no suffi- 
ciently authoritative machinery to interfere. 
Then again, — the largest tea distributer in the 
world advertizes teas as follows : — Is, Is 4d and 
Is 7d per lb., the last being declared the finest tea 
the world produces. Now let us follow these prices. 
Collectively they work out to an average of less 
than Is 4d per lb. Take off 4d duty ; 34d (a 
very low allowance) for retailing : I^d for blend- 
ing, packing, advertizing and distributing and 7d 
grofs is left for the producer or 6d net. I doubt 
if Ceylon can on an average over some years put 
its tea in London under 5d net, if any reasonable 
provision is made for wear and tear of property. 
If these calculations are right Id per lb,, is left 
as profit for the grower ; thus capitalizing all 
tea land coming within these limits, say at 10 
years purchase and 400 lb., to the acre, at a value 
of under £17 the acre. No, the reasons for the 
fall in the price of teas, lies not to the blame of 
reJuced import duty but, to far more direct causes, 
which I may enter upon later. 
It was to support this first a'ppearance of imaui- 
mity among producers in London, that I, much on 
the grounds and principles of a party government, 
supported the 1 lb. draft ; although I considered 
a better proposal could easily have been found. 
SUUM CUIQUE. 
THE PROPOSED COFFEE ASSOCIATION. 
A SCHEME FOR DIRECT SUPPLY. 
9, New Broad Street, London, B.C., 
2nd Oct., 1899. 
Sib, — As I find that many coffee planters in your 
district, as well as in the Federated Malay States 
and in the Dutch East Indies, are tnaDifesting a great 
interest in the movement I initiated recently for the 
organisation of an association of producers of coffee, 
with the object of stimulating the consumption of 
the article and generally to protect the interests of 
those engaged in the industry, I beg that you will 
grant me space in your colnmna to reply to the 
numerous correspondents who have addressed me on 
the subject. I will thus be enabled to give fuller 
particulars with regard to the objects and progress 
of the association. I should explain that I was led 
to take up this matter, in the first instance, in view 
of the heavy losses which are being sustained by the 
producers in Brazil and Central America, with 
which countries my paper, the South American Journal, 
has been for so many years associated. Consequently 
the final programme of the Association have only been 
published in the prospectus in the Spanish and Portu- 
guese languages. These are now being largely circulated 
in the countries mentioned. The Government of Brazil 
has manifested a great interest in the scheme and 
has asked me to supply a large number of pamphlets 
to be distributed officially. The Consuls of the 
coffee-producing countries of Central America and of 
Mexico have also sent out quantities of pamphlets 
to their Governments, and many merchants in London, 
Hamburg, Havre and elsewhere, have sent copies to 
their correspondents. I send you herewith specimen 
copies. 
It is obvious, however, that the success of the pro- 
posed Association will bo more assured if the coffee 
growers throughout the world should take part in it. 
The Editor of the Indische 3Iercuur, of Amsterdam" 
has kindly offered his co-operation in bringing this 
matter before his countrymen in Java, Sumatra, etc., 
where about sixty of the leading planters have already 
intimatedl their B^pproval of theeeheioe. * 
