Nov. 2, 1903.] THE mPlCAL 
AaRlCULTUlilST. 
The larger part of the imports as above into 
Russia, however, still come from China : and it is 
to be feared that farther progress with onr Teas 
may be checked by the difterential tax now im- 
posed on them. 
I am to suggest that the facts be submitted 
to the Foreign Office in the hope that represen- 
tation may be made to the Russian Government 
on the subject. — I have the honour to be. Sir, your 
obedient servant, 
(Signed) Wm. Martin Leake, Secretary, 
The Kight Hon. J Uharaberlaiu, M.P., Colonial 
Office, S.W. 
Downing Street, )7th Sept., 1903. 
Sir, —I am directed by Mr Secretary Cliamber- 
lain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 
the 14th inst., on the subject of the surtax recently 
imposed by the Russian Government on Tea im- 
ported from India or Ceylon, and to inform you 
that the matter is receiving the attention of His 
Majesty's Government. — I am, Sir, your obedient 
servant, (Signed) C. P. Lucas. 
The Secretary to the Ceylon Association in 
London. 
QUEENSLAND BANANAS, COLOMBO 
GROWN. 
Colombo Stock Garden, Oct. 9th. 
Dear Sir,— I send you some fruits of a 
variety of Queensland bananas growing here. 
The size *of the fruits is not their only re- 
commendation, as you will, I think, find them 
mealy and of good flavour. The bunch was of 
fair size and consisted of some 150 fruits.— 
Yours, etc., C. DRIEBERG, 
Supt., School Gardens. 
[The bananas are excellent, both in quality 
and flavour, beside being the fattest we have 
ever seen.— Ed. T.A. 
TELUQU COOLIES FOR CEYLON, 
THE ERROr. OF HIGHER WAGES. 
Sir, — There is a good deal of interesting read- 
ing in the proceedings of the Matale Planters' 
Association meeting of the 29th of August ; and, as 
far as Mr. Westland's Telugu coolies scheme is 
concerned, all planters in Ceylon will thank him 
for what he has done, and for sending his son over 
to bring some of the new labourers as sample ana 
proof that they are available. 
One error, in my humble opinion, Mr. Westland 
has committed in offering these new people higher 
wages than we give our old hands. At least the 
Planters' Association of Ceylon should have been 
consulted. Before they were engaged they asked 
what pay they were to get — why not have told 
them they would receive the same as our old 
coolies ? If they refused, some arrangement for 
something extra for regular work and good con- 
duct could be conceded after due consideration by 
the Association ; bub I would give nothing that 
we conld not give at the same time to our 
old coolies. Mr, Westland, in a previous speech — 
or letter, I forget which — said we had already 
raided the rate of wages I think not. Certainly 
not foi' the ia-t 42 years I We (laid our i;nfff;t>- 
store coolies extra, that is from their pay of 33 
to .35 cents and 40 cetits, and we do the same in 
pur tea factories. Field labourers do not complain. 
They know if their turn comes to get work ia the 
factory their pay will be raised. 
I will consider this extra wage to the Tehis'i 
cooly in another liizht. Gangs are sent to the liel'1 
from parade to different works — to cut holes, say. 
Will our coolies continue to be satisfied* with 
.33 cents to do the same task as the Telugu cooly 
who gets 40 cents ? I feel very certain there will 
be great complaints and some fine morning, when 
a big flush is on, we would have the Tamil kan- 
ganies coming to parade to say none of their 
coolies will come to work because the Telugu 
coolies received far better pay for the same work. 
Again, as regards the kanganis' pay : Mr. 
Westland would pay 40 cents per day wage for 
every 15 coolies, and pay no head money. I think 
this is a mistake. The head money encourages 
kanganis to bring their coolies to work. The 
Telugn kangani wonld get his 40 cents whether 
there were 15 or 7 coolies ? I will suppose one 
or two are down with fever, and some others say 
they are not quite fit; a few come to work and 
the boss gets his 40 cents, 
I say : pay the Tamil and the Telugu the same 
wage and pay both extra for extra work. For 
years I give a " tundu " for extra work to men 
and women every evening. I believe Mr. West- 
land's idea of 2 cents per day as a saving fund 
would do well with our coolies. It would en- 
courage them to come to work more regularly,' 
—Yours &c. A. H. T. 
MR. WESTLAND'S TELUGU COOLY 
FIGURES. 
Dooroomadella, Oct. 14th. 
Sir,— In reply to the para re Telugu 
Coolies, in Monday's Observer of the 107 
coolies brought over from India to this 
estate, two died on the estate, one is in 
the Matale Hospital, 92 have left and 12 
remain. They made no complaint of the 
work, pay, lines or food, but said they 
could not stand the wind and rain, of which 
we had more than usual daring the past 
quarter.— Yours, etc., 
JAMES WESTLAxVD. 
TELUGU COOLIES IN CEYLON : HOW 
TO WORK THEM, 
Lindula, Oct, 14th, 
Sir,— Did Mr. Westland expect any other 
result than that his Telugus would bolt ? 
Of course, the other coolies and their kan- 
ganis would drive them away. It has 
happened up here before, and the mistake 
was then found out. Bring Telugus over- 
if you like — in hundreds, and they will work 
and stop if they are given a chance. In 
small numbers hand them over to the 
existing head kanganis who, drawing their 
head pay, will not only take over and be 
answerable for their debts, but nurse them. 
But to think any small gang of 80 people 
conld hold their own against hordes of 
inimical Tamils is too much. Higher wages 
and promises would not. keep tbem. I have 
individual Telugu coolies and women working 
under me in gangs as ordinary coolies, 
and first-class labourers they are. I would 
today take over a hundred of them with 
pleasure, but I should hand them over to 
be looked after by oae of their own colour 
