166 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTDRIST. [Sept. 1, 1903. 
comes before the two Associations in which they 
are jointly interested, I think it is a very simple 
matter for them to act in concert and give 
effect jointly to their wishes, as powerfully 
as if they had been working it as one joint Asso- 
ciation. (Hear, hear.) With regard lo the Tea 
Duty, I do not think there is much to be said. 
You know that the Government turned a deaf 
ear to the petition of the Indian and Ceylon Asso- 
ciations praying for a reduction of the duty on 
tea, and that Mr, Chaplin's appeal to the 
Government to retain the Corn Tax and lessen 
the import duty on tea has also failed. But 
as we know by this time, the Government are not 
very much influenced by petitions from their 
Colonial possessions, and till the voice of the public 
is heard on this matter of the reduction of the 
duty on tea, I do not think we are likely to 
have any reduction. But the time is undoubtedly 
approaching when the rise in the price of tea 
will be felt by the consumer— for the consumer 
will have to pay the increased price — and he will 
make his voice heard, and next year you will 
very probably have a reduction in the duty. 
Now as to the Ceylon tea cess. This is a subject 
which has always been fruitful in discussion, and 
upon which there have been vprying opinions- 
I do not intend to review or revive the con- 
tentions of the parties with regard to the 
discussion, as the matter is now practically 
settled. I think it was a somewhat delicate and 
difficult problem to bring the Upcountry growers 
and the Low country growers and the 
Government into line on this important 
question. It cannot, I think, be seriously 
contended that the interests of all growers are 
identical. As long as we have proprietary 
interests solely connected with the growing of the 
finer teas upcountry, with other interests in the 
production of common teas, it is inevitable that 
differerces of opinion will exist as to the distribu- 
tion and allocation of the tea cess. But I think 
the Lowcountry planters have reason to be 
grateful to their fellow planters in the 
Upcounti'y as I believe not a few of them 
sacrificed a good deal for the common good of the 
whole industiy. (Hear, hear). I think I am 
right in saying that this Association has never 
tendered advice to the Thirty Committee in Ceylon 
unless that advice was asked for, and I believe the 
Thirty Committee are of opinion that as long as we 
do not interfere with them, we are entitled to have 
a voice in their deliberations when any large or 
important question with regard to the tea cess 
fund is being brought up. (Applause.) I yield to 
no one in my appreciation of the good, hard and 
unselfish work of the Thirty Committee in Ceylon, 
but it we and they refuse to regard otherw ise 
than with suspicion the influences that sometimes 
are set to work to bring the two Associations into 
a state of variance with one another, then I think 
, we can work, as we ought to work, for the mutual 
support of the interests we represent. As I was 
in some degree personally responsible for the 
proposition that was sanctioned by the Gov- 
ernment of teylon and endorsed by the 
Planters' Association in regard to the tea cess 
fund, I trust the settlement which has been arrived 
at, although there are difference of opinion regard- 
ing it, will meet with your approval, and that it 
will be found to be the best under the peculiar 
circumstances of the case. Now, I think these are 
practically all the subjects dealt with in this report 
and as it isusual on this occasion for the Chairman 
to review the positior of the tea industry, with 
your permission I will make a few remarks on that 
subject. For the last few years, I think we 
have always talked in " mournful numbers " 
of the tea industry, but today we can speak in a 
happier tone. Happily we have been spared a 
prolonged continuance of the severe stress of the 
last three years, which, if it had prevailed much 
longer, would have undoubtedly brought about 
widespread misfortune. As it is, I am afraid, a 
good number of tea proijrietors and investois have 
suffered not a little during that period, but it is 
now some consolation to them that there is some 
hope that their investments will, at any rate, 
return a fair interest on Iheir money in the future. 
(Hear, hear.) The position since last we met in 
this room has materially altered, and the price of 
tea today represents, if carried on till the end of 
the year^ and increased income to the Ceylon 
planters of £500,000 sterling. That has been 
achieved with a moderate rise in the prise of tea, 
and if the price again goes up to what it was three 
or four years ago, the industry will benefit 
proportionately to a great extent. I think it is 
now fairly well established that India and Ceylon 
cannot hope to very much increase the output 
of tea unless under more favourable climatic 
conditions than they have bad durinjr the past 
few years. As practically all the tea lands 
which were planted some few years ago are now 
in bearing and considerable portions of land are 
going back in cultivation, and tea markets are 
extending in every direction, I think it is reason- 
able to come to the conclusion that the dark 
days of 1901, 1902, and 1903 have^lpassed away, 
and that we are entering into-an era of prosperity. 
I believe, however, we are on the brink of very 
important changes in the tea industry, and ! 
think it is the duty of this Association and the 
Indian Association to most carefully study the 
tide of affairs and the altering conditions of 
the industry. Efforts are undoubtedly being 
made by an important section of the tea trade 
to frustrate any rise in the price of tea, and 
this section has gone so far recently as to import 
into this country the lower grades of China tea, 
brought from America and fiom the Continent of 
Europe, in order to lower the standard of tea in 
this country, so that the consumer may have it 
at the price he had it previously. There is also 
another section of the trade, however, acting in 
opposition to this policy, and whose endeavour it 
is to keep up the quality and the price of tea. 
That is the section which I trust this Association 
will lend their support to. (Hear, hear.) But if 
there is to bo a determined effort on the par* of 
the former section to introduce China tea to this 
country, then I think this Association will have 
to most carefully watch Mieir efforts in this direc- 
tion ; and I throw out the suggestion for what 
it may be worth, that , if f^nch efforts appear to be 
at all successful it m'ghl be worth consideration 
whether the sums whic h we spend on the Continent 
of Europe in the profiuganda of Ceylon tea with 
so litte effect could not be brought here to fight 
this attempt to introduce China tea into the 
country. (Hear, hear.) Cheapness, apart from 
quality, appeals to the millions, and it would be 
rash for anyone here to say that the British public 
will never revert to China tea. When cheapness 
is the only consideration I think the masses would 
drink almost anything, (Laughter, and hear 
