JULY 1, 1S98.] 
THE TROPICAL 
AaRICULTURIST. 
9 
"THEITHIRIY COMMITTEE' AND 
EXTENSION OF TEA SALES^ 
The " Tliii ty Commibtee " beiu^ one of the 
most imiiortant oiganizations in existence for 
pushing the sale of Ceylon lea in foiei.t^n 
markets, its ptoceediugs are always of special 
incerest. In another coluniu we givi; liie 
minutes of the last meeting at whicli 
Mr. Mackenzie, our Commissioner, was present 
and receivei a unanimous and surely well 
deserved vote of thanks for Ids labours on 
beiialf of Ceylon tea tliroughoub the great North 
American continent. Not a dissentient voice was 
raised,— not a word suggesting an amended or 
new policy,— and therefore, Mr. Mackenzie lias 
completely justilied the confidence reposed in him 
as Ceylon's representative in America where 
he has had to cope with some of the smartesc 
business men in "creation," and so it must be 
all the more encouraging for him r,o know tliat 
the Committee, and specially the planting com- 
muuitv, have so unanimously declared their con- 
fidence in him. We are certain that all this 
confidence will lead to no eftori being spared 
on his part to gain fresh ground and we 
sincerely trust that the methods devised may 
continue to be even more successtul tnan 
they have been in the past. Fmaucia mat- 
ters of course occupied a good deal of the at- 
tention of the Committee and it is only nglit 
that me.nbers should be in possession o 
all details as to the state of tue lund and 
how it is expended whether in America, 
Kussia, Germany, or elsewhere. Much has been 
heard about the impoitance of mann actnring 
green tea iof the American market. Ihe Coni- 
mittee have carefully considered the subject, 
and their resolution to consider applications tor 
assistance from those prepared to experiment m 
making these teas for export to Arnerica, 
while certainly cautious, hoids out an induce- 
ment which may result in much good. A sum 
of £500 has been voted for the purpose of push- 
in" our staple product amongst the green tea 
dilnkers in Canada and Mr. Mackenzie wi no 
doubt see the sum fairly apportioned. The busi- 
iiess before the meeting was varied enough, and 
embracing from South Africa to r^'orway and 
from France to Kussia, which only comes second 
to North America in importance. _ The more atten- 
tion that is directed to Russia, its import du.y, 
customs of transit, &c., the better, but for a 
moment, most interest is concentrated on A ustro- 
Hungary, and that is dealt with separately. 
THE THIRTY COMMITTEE. 
Minutes of proceedings of a meeting of the 
«' Thirty Committee" held at Kandy, on triday, 
the 20th day of May, 1898, at half-past 7 o clock 
(7-30 a.m.) in the morning. 
Present ;-Messrs. F. O. A, Lane, (Chairman); 
A Philip, (Secretary); Wm. Mackenzie, (Kepre- 
sentative in America) ; Hon. J. N. Can^be.l, 
M L C. ; Messrs. James E. P. Ryan, W. Henry 
Fiacx A. E. Wright, R. A. Galton, E. Turner, 
J.Tj. Coles, A. J. Denison, J. H Starey J. A, 
Burmester, George Gre.g, Hugh 1.. Roberts. 
Gordon Pyper, H. V Maseheld A A. Bowie, 
Joseph Fraser and A. Melville ^\hlte. 
The notice calling the meeting was read. Ihe 
minutes of proceedings of a meeting of the Thirty 
Committee held at Kandy, onSaturda.y, the 12lh 
March, were submitted for conluination. 
Resolved :— " That they be and they hereliy are 
confirmed." 
Read letter from Government acknowledging 
receipt of copy of the miuates of proceedings of 
a meeting of the Thirty Committee held at Kandy, 
on the 16th of February, 1893. 
STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS. 
Resolved :— " That members of the Thirty Com- 
mittee be furnished with a detailed statement of 
the names of those to whom payments have been 
made in America, for purposes of advertising with 
the amounts paid Co each in 1S97 ; also with a 
report and statement of account of the whole 
fund for the same year." 
With reference to the last paragraph, it was 
pointed out that a 100 copies of the report of 
the Thirty Committee, with statement of account 
for the whole fund for the year 1897, had been 
printed and duly circnlated and that there re- 
mained only about six copies available in pam- 
phlet form for issue to any members who might 
wish for another copy, but that the report, minutes 
of proceedings and statements of acco\ints for the 
year 1897, would also be included in the usual way 
with the proceedings of the Planters' Association 
in the annual volume. 
FINANCES. 
Submitted letters from the Treasurer of the 
Colony. 
Submitted letters from the Manager, National 
Bank of India, Ltd. 
Submitted sketch memo of the position of th 
fund as at •20th May, 1898. 
Resolved ;—" That the Bank be asked to fur- 
nish quarterly a transcript of Mr. William Mac- 
Kenzie^ No. 2 account for the information of the 
Committee; (2) tliat the sanction of the Gover- 
nor in Executive (Council be obtained to the 
transfer of any available balances in the Ceylon 
Tea (New Markets) Fund, f'-om time to time into 
fixed deposits with the Bank for short periods 
with a view to earning interest on such tempor- 
ary balances. 
GOVERNOR IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. 
Read letter from Government intimating that 
the Governor has been pleased with the advice 
of the Executive Council to sanction the propo- 
sal to send oOO lb. of Ceylon tea to Norway for 
free distribution, in terms of resolution passed by 
llie Committee and forsvariled to Government by 
letter, dated the 2nd March. Read letter from 
Government intimating that the Governor has 
been pleased v.'itli the advice of the Executive 
Council, to sanction the expenditure of a £1,000 
in advertising Ceylon Tea in Russia, in terms of 
resolution passed by the Committee and forwarded 
to Government by letter, dated the 2nd March. 
Read letter from Government intimating that 
the (governor has been pleased with the advice of 
the Executive Council to sanction the expendi- 
ture of £200 sterling in advertising 
CEYLON TEA IN SOUTH AFRICA. 
Read letter from Government intimating that 
the Governor has b^cn ))leased with the advice 
of the Executive Council, to sanction the expen- 
diture proi>osed to be incurred by the Committee 
in advertising Ceylon Tea in Germany, in terms 
of resolution forwarded to Government by letter 
dated the 17th March. 
REPRESENTATIVE IN AMERICA. 
Mr. Wm. Mackenzie (representativein America)^ 
who was present, gave a long and interesting 
sketch of the position, and of the progress made 
