Sept. 1, 1898.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
207 
had to say on the subject, but he tlid not think any 
of theligures before them would lead tliein to sup- 
pose tliat that woukl be the case, and he thouglit 
moreover from all independent accounts that tliey 
had before tliem that ihe tea trade of China was 
on its last legs, Great Britain and the Contment 
were beginning to acquire a taste for India and 
Ceylon teas, and he did not think this movement 
was likely to be damage ! by a reduction of the duty 
—a reduction in which they would have au ad- 
vantage as well as China. Under these circuui- 
stances he begged to propose— " That in the opi- 
nion of this Chamber it is desirable that action 
should be taken with a view to secure the abohtion 
of Import Duty on tea in the United Kingdom." 
Mr. Cumber HATCH seconded the resolution. 
Mr. Mackwood thought that it was very desir- 
able that the Ciiamber should approach the Secre- 
tary of State with the view of inducing hiui to use 
his influence in order to get— he did not think it 
likely they should secure abolition— but in order to 
get probably a reduction of the duty. He thought 
that with the present claims on the revenue, due 
to political troubles, it was impossible to expect 
abolition, but a reduction might be agreed to. On 
the other hand, strictly, it seemed to him. the 
request should co ne more from the people at home 
who were the drinkers of the tea as they were the 
people likely to beneht most by the change. He 
did not think that tliey in Ceylon could expect to 
benefit very much, the figures quoted by Mr. 
Bois inchulcd figures which represented the dis- 
placement of China tea to a very large percent- 
age. He had not had time to work out those 
figures, but they did not show merely an increase 
of consumption, but were largely due to the dis- 
placement of China tea. They must remember that 
in the battle they had been fighting with China they 
had been fighting with that duty before them and it 
was another matter how far the altered conditions 
of abolition, might affect the fight. As regarded 
China being on its last legs— it did not sound very 
symi.athetic, but from their point of view one would 
be glad to think this was so; but he(the speaker) had 
friends in China, and he understood from them that 
they did not intend to sit and take their chance 
with their hands folded. They intended to do 
their best to resuscitate their trade and, among 
other things, they in Ceylon had been accustomed 
to speak of China tea as being cultivated from the 
China bush, but they would have to meet in future 
with tea manufactured from the same description 
of tea-seed, that they had been usingin Ceylon. They 
were getting the same sort of seed that we had 
planted, and^he did not suppose the climatic con- 
ditions were very different in China from what 
they were here, and it was an unknown question 
as to what China would do with these conditions ; 
but one thing- he was quite certain of was this, 
that they should bear in mind that if there was 
any public agitation of the tea enterprise in Ceylon 
brought to bear upon the authorities in Eng- 
land, after January or February next it wou d 
leave such a state of uncertainty in the tea trade 
as would have a disas':rous effect on prices, 
and they would probably have a serious crisis to 
go through even if their expectation in regard to 
extension of consumption held good. Nothing 
was saiil last year about the increase there had 
been, in the revenue got from tea, and it came as 
a surprise this year when the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer said :—" "Will yon have a rednction 
off' tea or tobacco?" And there was no public 
a.'itatioti for the free breakfast table last year. 
The real hope he had in the change was tliat 
they might gain a great advantage over the 
countries that produced cocoa and coffee if they 
could induce people by giving them cheapened 
tea to drink tea by preference. He was not 
opposing the motion, but simply putting forward 
these views to help on the discussion. (Applause). 
The Hon. Mr. MiTCHiiLL said that when at home 
last year he talked over this matter with several 
people and found a great difference of oi)inion. 
He drew attention, however, to the fact that in 
Australia the average number of lb. of tea con- 
sumed per head was 7^ lb. and thouglit there 
v.as some re.ason for thinking that re<luction 
might raise the English average from its present 
point— 5£ lb. 
Mr. Macindoe tiiouglit this was rather a serious 
matter tor the Chamber to discuss as it was at 
present with so many members away. He advo- 
cated the matter being sent to a Committee, and 
he would bring that suggestion forward as an 
amendment. 
Mr. Horsfall seconded. 
The Chaikman said, before he put the amend- 
ment he would not detain them by saying much, 
but he thought it a pity they shouhl defer it. 
Mr. Renton : — We have not a quorum. 
The Chaiuman said that though they had not 
so many members as when they came in that was 
really the fault of the members who retired. 
'I hey had had a week's notice of this resolution 
and if tliey took such little interest in the ques- 
tion that tliey did not remain to discuss it, it l ested 
with the members wiio remained to give their 
opinion as to whether they were in favour of the 
resolution or the amendment. He, as in duty 
bound, should [iiit the amendment first, and that 
was to the effect that the matter should be 
deferred. Personally he was not inclined to take 
that view. He suggested the Sta!iding Com- 
mittee might put themselves in communication 
with the Planters' Association, and, if they saw 
fit, there might be a general meeting to see how 
far they agreed. The mere fact of their asking 
the Chamber to take action did not mean that 
they were going to ap|)lj' at once to the Secre- 
tary of State. Tl.eie would be, he could 
guarantee, no hasty action in the matter. He 
would put the amendment. 
Mr. Horsfall wished to make his position 
clear. When he seconded the amendment he did 
so on the uiiderslanding that the matter was 
to be taken up at once. If there was going to 
be any delay and the matter stood a chance of 
V)eing shelved for six months he desired to with- 
draw his seconding. 
The Chairman (To Mr. Macindoe) : Will any- 
one else second your amendment. 
Mr. RENTONf : "l second it. 
The Chairman then put the amendment and 
it was lost by 10 votes to 7. 
Mr. Horsfall said he would like to propose 
a.iother amendment. 
The Chairman : You are too late. The reso- 
lution must now be put. 
He then put the resolution, and it was carried 
by 9 votes to 8. 
Cevlon Tka in Germany.— Mr. Westland 
writes : — " The more I think of the great field 
there is before us, the more I feel assured that 
we outrht to have far more success in Germany 
than in Americv, and I hope to see and learn 
of a large share of the funds of the ' Thirty 
Committee ' being wisely diverted into this new 
channel." 
