Oct. 1, 1901.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
•while Indian and Ceylon are on a very low level, 
so that the natural tendency of the curtailn^ent of 
consumption of a higli-priced article, and the 
natural increase of the consumption of a low-pnced 
article, will have a tendency to assist the efforts of 
the Indian Association. -We are, yours respect- 
fully, J. L. WATT AND SCOTT. 
Toronto, Canada, July 17. 
—H. and C. Mail, August 23. 
THE INDIAN TLA CESS. 
August 26th. 
Dear Sip,— For many months the possibility 
that India would cousent to a Cess has appeared 
almost hopeless, but in spite of the difficulties in 
the way, it was evident to me that Tea owners 
would take steps to protect their interests if suffi- 
cient endeavours were made to influence them. 
At the present moment the idea of a Cess on the 
same lines as that of Ceylon is openly discussed, 
and appears almost certain. I do not know how 
much my own endeavours have had any itfluence 
on public opinion, and at present the small Cess 
only is advocated, while I have persistently advo- 
cated a Cess of two pies per pound without receiv- 
ing much support in " the Pre-ss." 
A prominent Southern India planter advised me 
to draft a circular and have it printed in pam- 
phlet form so that all the Associations could be 
appealed to directly. He oflfered R50 towards 
expenses, and I am arranging to carry out his 
advice. But I am strongly impressed with the idea 
that the way to get at India is through Ceylon. 
Ceylon men were tiie first to have a "Cess," and 
this is an Industrial departure which may have 
great results. Ceylon is almost certain to have 
a Green Tea Association before we have it in 
India. And if by any means Ceylon can he im- 
pressed with the necessity of a 2 pie Cess it will 
be passed and become a fact. Ceylon made a grand 
effort, and the Indian Tea owner will shortly fol- 
low in the same course. This would be within 
the reach of my poor comprehension if Ceylon had 
not passed through a crisis, and the only hope for 
better things seems to be chat Ceylon will lead 
the way. 
What has your Cess done for you ? It has en- 
abled you to keep pace with India, but it has not 
averted the crisis. Your fjiarkets are still too 
restricted, and do not absorb your yield at a fair 
price. I cannot understand why Tea owners will 
not face the situation and take measures to insure 
prosperity and expansion. I will put the matter 
before you in a nutshell:— 3i lakhs for foreign 
markets have failed to avert a crisis. Is it reason- 
able to hope that six lakhs will have any appreci- 
able effect ? Is there any reason to expect that 2^ 
lakhs more will enable our dearly beloevd Asso- 
ciations to increase the demand even to the ex- 
tent of our natur.'jl increase from extensions 
already growing into maturity ? Are we to be 
left for ever with a mere permission to make tea 
and reap no benefit from it ? The six lakhs of the 
Combined Cesses will enable most of us to con- 
tinue making tea, but cannot possibly enable us 
to make more profit. I am ready lo retire from the 
lists, if anyone can give even a glimmer of hope 
that the strain will be removed if India consents 
to a Cess " like that of Ceylon." Ereryone 
admits that a very large sum of money is required, 
that tea supply must be regulated ; that new 
markets must be ted ; in fact everyone knows 
exactly what is -(vauted, hitt will not propose 9, 
sufficient remedy. If we had to pay a Cess of two 
pies, it would be madness to speak of it to Tea 
owners. If we do actually have to pay that Cess 
it will mean that those who make a profit now 
will get K833 per thousand maunds of tea less 
profit. And those who lose will lose more to that 
extent. Certainly this state of afi"airs Avould end the 
discussion by the Parliamentary method of 
" Closure." 
I do not, for one moment, advocate paying a 
Cess of two pies a pound. What I do advocate is 
imposing a tax which shall be paid by the buyers 
and consumers, and that the amount imposed on 
i/iewi shall be of sufficient magnitude to enable us 
to place good average tea on new markets, so that 
the increased demand shall keep pace with our 
certain increase in yield. It puts my scheme in a 
pleasauter light, rose-coloured if you will, but to 
my mind the dawnlight of a new era in tea. We 
will force the buyers for our present markets to 
pay enough money to open out new markets. If 
any of your Ceylon men will see it in this light let 
them say so, and let them try and influence others. 
My own dreams may be too bright because of the 
contrast with the black darkness of the past, but 
your men have clear heads and the above idea 
should settle the matter. If they decide that 
the Cess has to be paid by the grower, 
no one would be such an idiot as to 
adTocate a continuance of it. But if you decide 
that it is paid by others, the only question re- 
maining is how much is it advisable to take 
from them. I propose 2 pies per pound because 
this sum would make practically no difference 
to the Buyers and Consumers, and id would be 
sufficient to lighten onr markets of seventeen mil- 
lion pounds of tea. Mr Kosling ought to back 
up the scheme, because it is the outcome of his 
reduction scheme. His proposal was jumped at 
by Indian growers, but Mr Rosling forgot to 
make 'provi.oKm for the " space " which would 
feel the want of the reduced Tea, and he forgot 
the new tea growing so gaily in the sun and rain, 
and the jolly little estimates for extensions which 
we have since then seen mentionad in Company 
reports. He forgot that, by shutting off steam, a 
train going up-hill will retire backwards until 
it comes to its natural level. Recent proposals 
for a small Cess are not much better : they simply 
put on the breaks and keep us where we are. 
Had Mr Rosling knovm that owners would pro- 
mise to reduce he might have extended his scheme, 
I began where he left off, and with the certain 
and stupendous fact that Indian owners had 
promised to give 31 lakhs of rupees to control 
the market. They say that straws show which 
way the wind blows, but the above was no 
"straw" ; it was the " set" of a strong current. 
If »ve can ^uide that current, our difficulties will 
vanish. 
Let us examine the hidden meaning of " the 
Cess." Germany pays a bounty to its sugar 
producers, that is to say it pays a Cess on every 
pound of sugar exported ; but it forces every soul 
in the country to pay its share in that Cess. Is 
Germany poorer by the amount paid as bonus? 
If not, then nothing has been paid t)y Germany. 
Have Ceylon owners paid their Cess ? If not, who 
has paid it 1 Of course, new consumers of tea 
have paid it ; had there been no new consumers, 
the growers would have been heavier losers than 
they are now ; their only fault was that they did 
not go far enough. Your Cess is a 100 
horse-power engine. You have so far used only one 
