Sept.  ?,  1895.] 
THE  rROPlCM.  AGKICULTURlSr. 
171 
that  Avouhl  provide  a margin  for  iiiijierfect  ]>lanks. 
If  the  planking  was  thicker  it  stood  to  reason 
that  it  would  stand  better.  Nothing  liad  heen  said 
about  imported  packages  of  more  select  wood  from 
Japan.  He  did  not  think  the  motion  would 
apply  to  that.  Perha[»s  others  who  knew 
more  about  the  subject  would  say  something 
about  it.  If,  at  all  events,  wood  a little 
thicker  weie  used,  tea  would  have  a much 
better  chance  of  reaching  its  destination  in 
better  order,  than  at  ])resent.  It  might  be  said 
that  the  China  packages  were  very  thin. 
That  was  true  but  they  were  bound  with 
rattans  and  being  Ilexible  were  able  to  stand  a 
great  <leal  more  knocking  about  than  their 
Ceylon  packages.  Indian  packages  he  thought,  were 
of  the  same  thickness,  but  he  was  not  com[)etent 
to  speak  on  the  subject  and  would  be  glad 
of  information.  As  members  knew,  a great  deal 
of  Ceylon  tea  was  subject  to  transhipment  and 
that  was  increasing  because  more  tea  was  going  to 
the  United  States  and  Canada.  The  half-inch 
packages  such  as  they  get  from  upcounU-y 
were  altogether  insuHicient  to  bear  the  strain. 
The  iialf-inch  hoops  put  on  at  present  were 
useless.  In  many  cases  before  reaching  Colombo 
the  hooiis  were  torn  off  and  thus  served  no  purpose. 
He  should  be  very  glad  to  hear  an  ex[iression 
of  o])inion  on  the  subject. 
Mr.  Bknham  seconded  in  a feW  words. 
Mr.  M.tcivWOOU  differed.  He  was  of  opinion 
that  half-inch  planks  were  sufficient,  as  regarded 
momi  packages,  and  sufficient  for  country  made 
packages  ]jrovi(ling  these  were  covered  with  Jute 
hessian.  Of  course  this  only  api»lied  if  the  wood 
was  proi)erly  .seasoned  and  there  must  be  no 
mistake  in  substituting  wood  g uf  an  inch  thick 
for  Cinch  wood.  The  majority  of  them  packed 
their  teas  presumalily.for  transhipment.  'I'he  tea 
went  out  of  the  Southern  Ports  of  the  Island 
and  the  question  arose  whether  the  man  u]»counfry 
had  to  bear  the  cost  of  g-inch  packages,  which  after 
all  might  not  be  necessary,  or  whether  the  buyer 
had  to  bear  the  cost.  Jute  hc.ssian  and  a half- 
inch i)lanking  would  stand  any  amount  of  knock- 
ing about  and  the  cost  of  it  would  be 
cheaper. 
Mr.  Alston  said  he  had  tried  covering  j)ackages 
with  gunny.  He  had  had  to  fight  against  the  Com- 
pany and  only  sometimes  had  he  succeeded  in  get- 
ting claims  paid.  When  gunny  was  used  the  ship- 
pers said  “ We  can  do  what  we  like  with  it”  and 
they  tumbled  it  up  till  tea,  wood  and  lead  were 
all  mixed  up  togetlier  and  then  they  handed  it 
to  the  consignee  like  a carpet  bag.  (Laughter). 
Mr.  M.VCKWOOI)  : — That  is  not  condemnatory 
of  the  form  of  jiaidcage.  It  is  condemnatory  of 
the  bad  usuage. 
•Mr.  Uituitv  said  that,  taken  all  over,  there  was 
nothing  much  to  complain  of  and  the  boxes 
as  used  at  present  stood  a fair  amount  of  knock- 
ing about.  The  cx})erience  of  his  linn  was 
tiiat  conntry-nifide  jiackages,  in  many  cases,  were 
very  bad  indeed,  particularly  after  tlicy  had  been 
sampled,  Mhen'tlie  nails  were  apt  to  split  them. 
Mr.  Alston  suggested  that  “Country-made  pack-- 
ages  ” should  be  specified  in  the  motion. 
The  Chairman  replied  that  there  was  no 
objection.  Proceeding  he  went  on  to  say 
that  Mr.  E.  H.  Creasy  had  written  to  the 
Association  on  the  subject.  I'liat  gentle- 
man's letter  hail  already  been  published  in  the 
newspapers.  He  suggested,  instead  of  altering  the 
thickness  of  the  wood  that  it  would  he  better 
to  make  the  packages  of  a diU'erent  si/e  x 
20i  X 20h — perfectly  square,  and  they  would  then 
carry  very  much  better  than  at  present.  Prob- 
ably that  was  correct. 
Mr.  Maukwuol)  remarked  that  that  was  a mat- 
ter for  planters  If  they  liked  in  sufficient  num- 
bers to  adopt  it  there  would  be  a sujiply  to  meet 
their  wants. 
The  Chaium.vn  said  it  was  very  difficult  to 
nail  up  again,  a plank  that  was  only  half  an 
inch  thick.  The  motion  was  merely  an  exjiression 
of  opinion.  They  conld  not  force  ])lanters  to 
ailopt  the  course  proposed.  It  was  for  them  to 
follow  it  out  if  they  chose. 
Mr.  MacivWooo  said  that  it  should  be  left 
to  planters  to  deal  until  accordingly 
to  supjdy  and  demand.  If  they  were  going  to 
express  an  opinion  that  20.V  inches  cube  would 
be  preferable — 
The  Chairm.-\.N. — We  do  not  do  that.  Do  you 
move  an  amendment  ? 
Proceeding,  Mr.  Mackm'od  said  he  did  not. 
The  fault  of  most  of  the  wood — not  all — was  in- 
herent, that  was,  a tendency  to  split,  and  so  far  as 
that  point  was  concerned  lie  could  not  see  g-inch 
Ceylon  wood  was  any  better  than  i inch.  He  had  not 
sufficienbknowledge  of  the  structure  of  the  wood, 
Imt  he  understood  it  was  this  splitting  tendency  that 
was  to  blame. 
Mr.  Drurv  said  it  was  difficult  for  a i»erson 
who  had  no  experience  to  give  advice.  It  seemed 
to  him  that  two  things  had  to  be  guarded 
against,  splitting  and,  very  often,  the  coming 
asunder  of  the  joints. 
Mr.  Mackwooh  : — That  is  want  of  .seasoning. 
After  further  discussion  Mr.  Mackwood  sug- 
gested that  the  better  way  would  be  to  refer 
the  matter  to  the  Planters’  Association  with  the 
view  of  eliciting  tneir  o]iinion. 
The  motion  was  put  to  the  meeting  and  carried 
unanimously  with  the  addition  “that  the  ex- 
perience of  the  Planters’  Association  in  this  sub- 
ject be  solicited.” 
THK  DUTY  ON  INDIAN  TKA. 
The  (’hairm.vn  intimated  that  the  Secretary 
had  been  addressed  by  (Jovernment  with  re- 
ference to  a memorial  by  the  United  Planters’ 
Association  of  Southern  India  with  the  view 
of  being  furnished  with  the  views  of  the  mem- 
bers. The  memorial  Avas  as  follows  : — 
To  His  Excellency  Sir  Arthur  E.  Havelock,  o.c.m.g., 
Governer  of  Ceylon,  Ceylon. 
Your  Excellency,— I have  the  honour  to  address 
you  on  behalf  of  this  Association  regarding  the  im- 
port duty  on  Tea  now  in  force  in  Ceylon. 
I am  directed  to  point  out  that  whilst  the  tax, 
which  has  now  been  in  force  for  several  years,  is  quite, 
unremunerative  to  the  Eevenues  of  your  Excellency’s 
Government,  it  operates  very  injuriously  against  the 
interests  of  Tea  Properties  in  Southern  India. 
Ceylon  possesses  a market  for  teas  from  which  all 
those  of  Southern  India  ai’e  shut  out  owing  to  the 
existence  of  the  import  duty  and  this  Association 
ventures  to  urge  the  repeal  of  the  Act  imposing 
this  duty  not  only  in  the  interests  of  the  Planters  of 
Southern  India  but  also  in  those  of  Ceylon  itself. 
The  Association  would  respectfully  advance  the 
opinion-  that  whilst  no  possible  injury  would  I30 
inflicted  on  the  local  market  by  the  abolition  of  the 
duty  a considerable  impetus  would  be  given  to  the 
tea  industries  of  both  countries. 
It  is  well  known  that  both  for  the  London  and 
the  Colonial  markets  each  of  the  teas  finds  a ready 
sale  when  blended  and  it  would  be  a distinct  advan- 
tage to  both  countries  if  the  blending  could  be  per- 
formed in  Ceylon  instead  of  at  the  various  Ports  of  sale. 
I am  further  directed  to  point  out  that  the  natural 
mai’ket  for  South  Indian  teas  is  Colombo  and,  the 
larger  the  quantity  attracted  thereto,  the  better  for 
Ceylon. 
Ceylon  is  in  no  way  benefited  by  the  exclusion  of 
Indian  teas  as  the  latter  is  naturally  absorbed  at  the 
various  Ports  in  any  ease. 
