THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[Sfpt.  2,  1^95. 
170 
jpct  in  wliioii  liP  look  ,a  dpop  iulorest.  He  had 
always  passed  a loss  of  woij^iit  when  it  di<l  not 
exceed  li  jier  cent  and  lie  always  expected  to 
buy  with  the  risk  of  such  a loss.  His  personal 
opinion  was  that  any  claim  made  for  one  jier 
cent,  in  view  of  the  (’nstoms’  allowance  and  the 
rules  of  the  trade,  was  simply  frivolous. 
THK  ust;  or  thk  sc.m.ks. 
Mr.  Al.ston  concurred  tienerally,  mentioning 
instances  in  his  own  e\[ierience  where  short 
weights  had  been  disirovered  and  where  much 
trouble  would  have  been  avouled  had  tlie  gross 
weight  been  marked  on  the  boxes. 
The  Chi.MH.M.VN  spoke  of  a similar  ease  wliieh 
occurred  last  week,  where  if  they  had  had  an 
op|>ortunity  of  pas.sing  the  packages  over  the 
scales  aiul  comparing  with  the  gross  weight  they 
wouhl  have  been  able  to  detect  the  shortage  at 
once.  As  regarded  Mr.  .Maok wood’s  suggestion 
as  regards  the  brokers’  catalogues  it  seemed  to 
Mr.  Mitchell  that  marking  the  gross  weight  on 
the  packages  became  a condition  of  .sale  so  that 
the  suggested  course  would  have  been  necessary. 
Mr.  Mackwood  said  he  was  all  the  better 
ple.ased,  an<l  remarked  that  if  they  did  not  meet 
each  other  in  a fair  and  honest  way  and  <leclined 
to  come  in,  the  men  who  stoo<l  aloof  would 
sutler  in  the  long  run. 
Mr.  Si  .viONS  pointed  out  that  a (ionsiderable 
time  might  elapse  before  the  purpose  of  the 
motion  came  into  operation,  and  in  the  mean- 
time the  brokers  should  slate  it  in  the  cata- 
logues. 
Mr.  Alston  If  we  make  a cuudition  of  s.ale 
we  must  name  a d.ay  on  which  it  is  to  begin  so 
iis  to  gi\  e people  a j'casonable  time. 
Mr.  Mackwood: — It  is  absolutely  no  trouble. 
Mr.  Tho.vU'.sox  Notice  should  at  once  be  given. 
Mr.  Lkucti.max  suggested  the  1st  October. 
Mr.  Mackwood  was  of  opinion  that  there  was 
no  necessity  for  delaying  so  long.  He  mentioned 
1st  September  as  the  date  when  it  should  come 
into  oper.ation.  So  far  as  a date  went  the  men 
who  were  willing  to  come  in  would  do  so  at  once. 
'I'he  CiiAinMAX  suggested  Hi, at  the  words  “ to 
take  etlect  from  Seiitember  ” be  atldeil. 
'I'he  motion  with  this  addition  w.as  then  jiut  to 
the  meeting  .and  carried  unanimously. 
COMI'I.AIXTS  KHOM  OVKK  THE  .SE \S. 
The  ('iiAinviAX  .said  the  next  resolution  was  : — 
••  'J'hat  in  view  of  the  numerons  coiupliiints  of 
sboilncss  in  weights  of  contents  of  packages  of  tea 
it  be  urged  upon  I’lauters  that  in  the  interest  of  the 
grower  as  we'l  as  the  buyer,  it  is  important  that 
greater  regularity  and  accuracy  in  weights  should  be 
observed.” 
The  Committee,  observ  ed  .Mr.  Mitchele,  h.ad 
had  a good  m.any  complaints  from  over  the  .se.as. 
The  following  w.as  received  the  other  day  from 
Australia  as  follows  ; — 
“ Weifihts. — M’e  have  had  a lot  of  trouble  with 
our  Customs  regarding  the  irregularity  of  weights 
and  with  very  few  e.xceptions  we  liml  that 
the  weights  marked  on  the  packages  are  in  excess  of 
actual  contents.  Now  this  is  a most  serious  matter, 
and  as  it  entails  in  some  instances  the  opening  of 
every  package  it  naturally  much  depreciates  the 
value  as  vou  can  well  imagine ; we  therefore  think 
that  it  is“  an  important  jioint  for  you  to  bring  before 
your  Chamber  of  Commerce  for  unless  something  is 
done  to  overcome  this  serious  discrepancy  of  weight, 
Ceylon  Tens  will  undoubtedly  get  a bad  name  in 
our  market,  solely  on  this  account  and  it  will  mean 
a heavy  loss  to  importers,  for  buyers  are  only  too 
anxious  to  take  advantage  and  make  cl.dii  b spec.ialiy 
when  they  know  that  it  can  he  proved  on  ('xaiuinatiou. 
lie  did  nut  think  the  resolution  needed  inucli 
disciiHsion.  'I'he  ahova*  was  not  the  only  letter 
on  the  .subject  wlibdi  had  been  received.  Ileinendy 
..took  it  u Baniplo  of  tli^s  lot  tbivl  laid  liccii 
forwardml  from  difl'erent  p.arls  of  tbe  count ry. 
'I'bey  could  do  iiolhiug  more  tliaii  pa.ss  tlic  re- 
sedution  tus  an  cxiiicssion  of  ojiiiiion  by  tlie  A.ssoci- 
ation  .and  with  the  view  of  impressing  upon 
l^lanters  and  Superintendents  the  necessity  for 
greater  accuracy. 
Mr.  Mackwood  .supposed  that  in  a good 
many  ca.ses  .all  necessary  care  was  taken. 
Tliey  bad  to  recognise  that  Planters  luid  a great 
deal  of  difliculties  to  contend  with.  His  teaTimaker 
might  be  disbonest  and  by  wrong  initialling,  try 
to  represent  a larger  ouantifx',  than  there  really 
was.  They  bail  to  de.al  .also  with  a certain 
amonnt  of  moderate  carele.ssness.  For  himself  lie 
thought  wlicro  a good  deal  of  the  trouble 
.arose  was  from  the  m.achines  not  being  tested 
periodically. 
'I'he  Ch.ueMAN  : — M’eighing  maclpnes  r 
Mr.  Mackwood  Yes. 
Mr.  SvMOX.s  remarked  that  the  former  reso- 
lution would  come  in  and  check  tliat- 
Mr.  Mackwood,  (continuing)  said  on  the  other 
hand  tliere  were  certain  eccentricities  in  tea 
which  it  wa.s  impossible  to  trace  hack  to  the 
factory.  Last  year  amongst  .several  other  lines 
of  tea  his  linn  bought  from  2,000  to  g,tKfU  lb.  for 
the  Canadiau  market.  'I’o  suit  tlie  purpo.se  of 
tlieir  client  they  repacked  tbe  tea  at  (,’olombo  at 
Me.ssrs.  (leorge  Steuart  and  Co’s.  Mills  and  the 
up-country  man’s  weight  was  found  to  be  per- 
fectly correct,  yet  when  the  tea  was  .sent  to  Liver- 
pool for  transhiimieut  to  Canada  it  was  found  to 
lie  four  jicr  cent,  short. 
'I'lie  CuAlRM.'VX; — Do  I understand  you  to 
second  the  resolution  ? 
Mr.  Mackwood  s.aid  he  would  second  tlie  re- 
•solution  to  be  in  order,  adding  that  lie  had  never 
been  enabled  to  get  Vieliind  the  cause  of  the 
discrepancy  be  bad  mentioned. 
riie  Cii.uicMAX  : — I sliall  be  glad  to  hear  the 
exjierienccs  of  any  other  gentleman.  It  is 
a matter  of  importance  and  mifortiin.ately  we 
all  know  it  only  too  well. 
'I'lie  resolution  was  then  pul  to  the  meeting 
and  carric'd  unanimously. 
E.VUETV  TE  A RACK  ACES. 
'I'he  Cii.MRM.AX  submitted  the  following 
motion : — 
“That  in  view  of  tlie  fact  that  Ceylon  tea  is  now, 
nmeh  more  than  formerly,  distributed  to  all  parts  of 
the  world  the  transit  involving  in  many  cases  more 
than  one  transhipment  the  half  incli  Ceylon  wooden 
planks  at  present  used  for  tea  chests  are  in  the  opinion 
of  this  Association  insufticient  for  tlie  weight  con- 
tained in  them  and  they  consider  that  planks  of  at 
least  gth  of  an  inch  should  be  used.” 
'riiis  motion  the  Cii.UHMAX  jiroceeded  to  say 
w'.as  brought  forward  to  some  extent  witli  the 
view  of  eliciting  an  expression  of  opinion  from 
the  memhers  of  the  Associ.alion.  Some,  lie  know 
considered  lialf-iiicli  jdaiiks  were  sulUcioiilly 
thick,  otlier  memhers  that  packages  ought  to  he 
of  .a  difl’erent  sliape,  w Idle  ot  liers  considered  they 
are  not  sufficiently  thick.  'I'he  hist  was  his 
oiiinion,  for,  lie  hail  seen  again  and  again  pack- 
,ages  coming  down  toColomho  altogether  nisutlicient 
for  the  carriage  of  tea.  After  tlicy  had  been  deli- 
vered and  nailed  uji  after beingopeiiedlie  had  known 
many  instances  where  they  were  not  fit  to  go  the 
leiiglh  of  the  I’ort. 
Mr.  Mackwood  Are  3mu  .snro  that  tliej'  were 
m.ade  of  lialf-in  h wood  ? 
'I'lio  Ci'v;!  ,\v  w !’>  understood  to  rejily  in  Hie 
alnriiiativ  o,  ami.  I lo.  feding.  he  said  they  w onhl 
have  impmfoci  |il;.nl  s m w and  ag.ain  : I ut  he 
could  not  help  thinking  tiiat  if  planks  were  more 
than  .j.-iiicli  that  that  wouhl  go  a long  way  to 
meet  the  dilliculty.  If  t)iej'  were  a little  t||ick,pr 
