Sept. 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL AaRlCULTURIST. 
169 
Ceylon as at piesont constituted, Avas apparently 
looked upon our there as simply a sort of ie<2istra- 
tion society of that Association's decisions, and 
when we venlured to differ ever so slightly the 
si2n of iiidepeadeMce war, considered contumacious, 
and denoiiiiced aicordingly. We may, however, 
let that pass, knowinc' as we all do 
that an Eastern climate is conducive to 
nervous irritation, and now that they 
have no wisely adopted oar weil-nieant sugges- 
tions, we may draw a veil over the past and liope 
for calmer and wiser views in the future. 1 Ccmtiofc 
resume my seat without expressing my extreme 
surprise, and, I might almost say, disappointment 
at the trend of public opinion in Ceylon, wliere 
tl'.e leading men in our industry appear to nie to 
be suffering ifrom a ve''y severe attack ot wiiat 
I can only term "cess fe\er," and r,o look upon 
the ce s as being the one and only panacea for 
every ill that our industry may sufier from. 
(Laughter.) Far be it from me to run down the 
cess, though I am inclined to think its day of use- 
fulness is almost over ; but I should like to see 
a little more open-mindedness, and would gently 
remind my brother-planters that other means do 
exist for helping our industry, which is even now 
going through a crisis, and still requires fostering 
if it is ever really to weather the storm add again 
become prosperous. On all sides v/e hear of labour 
difficulties and excessive advances, and unques- 
tionably this is one of the evils confronting us. 
Then why not do something before the evil 
becomes acute, as it promises to do before long ? 
Surely some panacea other than the very extraor- 
dinary one of adding to the taxation of the indus- 
try you depend on might be thought of! But I 
fear other considerations come in, and I 
ailmit I almost tremble at my own temerity 
when I suggest to our leaders in Ceylon a 
line of action wliich will not be so agreeable to our 
rnler-s as the asking for increased taxation, while I 
myself ain at a sife distance, and am in no way 
affected by the frown of the Govei'iior or the absence 
from a seat at his hospitable table Still it does 
Seem to me that now is the time, when our industry 
is struggling and the island's revenues are redun- 
dant, 10 press for some aliei-iation in the taxati'jn 
on the food of the coolie, and to call for the aboli- 
tion of the unjust import Duty on Rice, and a re- 
duction in the excessiv e rate of transport on tiie 
Government railway on the coolies' st-ple food. 
Mr. Balfoui's argument against a tax on the food 
of the poor man in England surely holds good for 
the poorer man in Ceylon, and the fact that cuuntry- 
grosvn rice goes free of duty is even a stronger and 
more convincing argument. On the other point 
the ludian Government's action is an object-lesson 
to Ceylon, for the food of the poor is carried at 
specially low rates on the Government railways. 
Reduction on these two points would at once 
cheapen our labour, and go a long way towards 
lightening the labour difficulties. No doubt it is 
easy for me to take this line in London, but it 
will require more courage for a man in Ceylon, 
and will probably mean for a public man the 
giving up of uU hope of obtaining an honour- 
able prehx to a commonplace name to be 
worn wliile resident in the Island to 
distinguish him from the common herd. (.Laupiiter. 
Still, strong men do exist, and plain Mr PUt, to 
say nothing of Mr Gia'lstono and Mr Chamberlain, 
are proofs that plain ministers are not to be de- 
spised ;and do not we all rememhei that Brutus wa.'^ 
an honouvable man ? (Laughter.) No, gentletnen, 
it is time the cess fever abated, and our Icader.i 
looked to other means to help us, and >a .strong 
and determined agitation on the lines suggested 
mighc do great tlnr.gs if O'.iiy v/e could find the 
individual to .«et the ball a-roliiug. The present 
is a unique opportunity for pressing these que.stiony 
forward, huo I fail to see si /ns of »ny action 
being taken. Our leaders appear to be moie 
desirous .of addin^g to our burdens rather than 
lightening them. We in London can do but little, 
but I am quite convinced that an agitation started 
in C-ylcn to achieve tlie objects I have indicated 
would command the strongest support from thi>! 
Association in London, and might ea-ily mean the 
renewal of that brotherly love between us, the 
loss of which we have all of late so deeply 
deplored. (Laughter, and applause.) 
Mr J M Maitlaud Kirwaii :— I see it is stated 
here that the committee have had under consider- 
ation the French import duty on tea. Has any- 
thing been done ? li; is an iioportunt qtic-scion, 
Mr W Martin Leake:— I do not think any 
conclusion is come to yet. The propoF-al for 
increasing the duty has been postponed again and 
again, and for six months at a time. 
The motion was carried unanimously. 
The Chairman : — 1 rise to propose that this 
Association accords Mr Henry Bois a cordial vote 
of thanks for his work as President for the last 
two yeais. I have already made some remarks 
in reference to Mr Bois, and these liave been 
accentuated by Mr Bosaviquet, You all kcow 
how hard-working our retiring President has been 
and how deep an interest he has taken in this 
Association, and I am sure we shall miss his able 
and ripe judgment from our councils here. (Hear, 
hear.) But I trust that when he returns it will 
be in perfect health, and thus enable him to 
fulfil his duties in the sarae able way as previ- 
ously. (Hear, hear.) 
Mr W Martin Leake (the Secretary) :— I am 
the porso3 who has been brought more closely 
than anybody in connee'.ioa Viith the retiring 
Presiilent, Mr Bois. He is a very old friend cf 
mine ; I have Known him forty ysars, and more, 
and I should like to say that nothing cou'd 
have been Inore agreeable and pleasant than our 
working together the-se two years, (Hear, he;ir.) 
The q-.janticy of work he has had to do I do n -c 
think anyone here can have any conception of, 
except, perhaps, Mr Bosanquet, And nob only 
in this 111 itter of the Tea Clearing House has 
he given his time to the Association, but again 
and again be has had three or. four meetings a 
week with our Indian friends. I have the greatest 
pleasure in seconding this vote of thanks. (Hear 
hear.) 
The proposition was carried, 
Mr. J. L. Shand : — 1 cannot but express regret 
for the resolution which has been entrusted to me, 
but the regret has been already so well spoken to 
by Mr Rutlierford, Mr Bosanqtet and Mr Leake, 
that I will otdy touch upon it. A sad necessity 
compels us tiiis year to elect a new President. 
We had hoped we should have iiad the benefit of 
Mr Bois's ripe experience for some years, but, 
unfortunately, owing to his vavy serious accident, 
we have lost his service*, and 1 am sure the 
regret we all feel becomes real sorrow when we 
think of the time of trouble and trial lie has had 
