Sept.  2,  1895.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTU  RIS  P. 
179 
laliug  to  it,  and  widely  circulated  both  in  England 
and  in  India.  Copies  were  also  sent  to  America  and 
elsewhere,  and  lit  is  hoped  that  the  effect  will  be 
to  convince  planters  of  the  necessity  for  combined 
and  vigorous  action  in  the  direction  of  finding  new 
outlets  for  Indian  tc'. 
[A  copy  of  this  article  and  the  correspondence  is 
given  in  the  appendix.] 
THE  LABOUR  QUESTION. 
The  all-impbrtant  question  of  labour  supply  has 
been  under  the  consideration  of  your  committee,  and 
papers  in  connection  therewith,  received  from  Messrs. 
Begg,  Dunlop,  and  Co.,  Calcutta,  secretaries  to  the 
Tea  Districts  Labour  Supply  Association  (with  which 
is  amalgamated  the  General  Coolie  Recruiting  Asso- 
ciation), were  circulated  to  members. 
A meeting  of  the  General  Committee  was  held  on 
February  21st  which  was  well  attended,  and  a reso- 
lution was  arrived  at  that  it  was  advisable  to  sup- 
port the  action  of  the  Managing  Committee  in  Cal- 
cutta as  to  recruiting  coolies  through  the  established 
agency  of  the  Association,  with  a view  to  removing 
the  evils  attending  the  system  of  obtaining  coolies 
from  Arkattis  and  contractors  outside  the  association. 
A subsequent  meeting  was  held  on  May  6th  which 
was  also  largely  attended,  and  at  which  Mr,  D. 
Cruickshank  was  present,  and  explained  fully  the 
latest  aspect  of  the  question.  A Committee  was 
elected,  consisting  of  Messrs.  R.  -J.  Boyle,  D.  Cruick- 
shank, R.  B.  Magor,  .J,  N.  Stuart,  and  ,J.  Stewart,  to 
further  consider  the  question.  This  Committee  is 
now  engaged  on  that  work. 
INDIA  MUTUAL  LINE  AND  THE  “ CONFERENCE  ” NEW 
AOREEMENT. 
This  line  cannot  be  said  to  have  worked  quite 
satisfactorily  to  shippers,  owing  to  the  inability 
of  the  owners,  from  various  causes,  some  of  which 
Were  quite  beyond  their  control,  to  maintain  a 
thoroughly  effective  service,  in  terms  of  their 
contract.  To  the  owners  the  result  was  not  a 
financial  success,  and  an  appeal  was  made  by 
them  for  more  favourable  terms,  in  consideration 
for  improved  service  and  an  extension  of  the  term 
of  contract.  At  the  same  time  they  admitted  their 
liability  to  continue  on  existing  terms,  and  left  the 
shippers  at  liberty  to  cancel  the  contract  and  make 
other  arrangements,  if  they  considered  it  in  their 
interest  to  do  so.  On  this,  negotiations  were  opened 
with  the  “ Calcutta  Steam  Conference,”  and  several 
important  meetings  of  tea  shippers  were  held  to  con- 
sider the  question,  with  the  result  that  Mr.  Magor 
was  authorised  to  represent  tlie  shippers  in  these  ne- 
gotiations ; and,  mainly  through  thisgentleman’s  efforts 
an  advantageous  agreement  was  entered  into  w'ith 
the  “ Conference  the  chief  points  of  which  ai'e : 
1.  Five  years’  agreement,  terminable  by  two 
years’  notice  on  either  side,  but  not  before 
March  31st,  1,900.  2.  Freight  to  be  10s  net  above 
the  average  rate  for  rough  cargo.  The  advantages 
of  the  “conference  ” service  will  be  manifest  to  all, 
and  the  vexatious  question  of  rebate,  against  which 
your  committee  has  strenuously  protested  for  many 
years,  has  at  last  been  eliminated. 
SMALL  BREAKS. 
Representations  having  been  received  from  India 
that  some  of  the  Darjeeling  planters  found  it  difficult 
to  comply  with  the  new  rule  fixing  the  limit  of  a 
full  break  at  twenty  chests,  thirty  half-chests, 
and  fifty  boxes,  the  Tea  Brokers’  Associa- 
tion of  London  was  communicated  with  on  the 
subject,  and  the  operation  of  the  rule  was  care- 
fully watched,  while  the  Calcutta  Association 
was  requested  to  nominate  a delegate  to  repre- 
sent the  views  of  the  Darjeeling  planters.  Mr.  C. 
Milner,  of  Messrs.  Lloyd  and  Go.,  having  been 
named,  that  gentleman  was  invited  to  attend  the 
Committee.  Further  experience  seems  to  show  that 
the  new  rule  is  working  beneficially  to  tea  proprie- 
tors all  round,  including  those  of  the  Darjeeling 
district. 
REGULATION  OF  SUPPLIES. 
Information,  vvith  a view  of  creating  a more  healthy 
public  opinion  on  this  subject,  was  sent  to  all  mem- 
bers and  at  no  time  during  the  year  was  there 
such  pressure  on  the  market  as  to  cause  any  serious 
collapse  of  prices. 
BHUTAN-DOOARS  ACT. 
The  proposed  substitution  of  Act  X.  of  1859 
for  the  Bhutan-Dooars  Act  received  the  attention 
of  those  meinbers  of  the  General  Committee 
w'ho,  from  their  official  life  in  India,  were  practically 
acquainted  with  the  question,  and  representations  on 
the  subject  were  inado  to  the  Government  of  India 
through  the  Association  in  Calcutta. 
THF.  DUTY  ON  TEA. 
This  remains  as  before  at  4d  per  pound  (to  which 
point  it  was  reduced  in  May,  1890),  although  the  usual 
anticipation  of  a further  reduction  was  indulged  in 
before  the  Budget  was  produced  this  year.  In  con- 
nection with  this  question  an  interesting  letter  written 
by  Sir  Henry  H.  Howarth  to  the  Times  will  be  found 
in  the  appendix. 
INDIA  AND  CEYLON  IN  THE  IMPERIAL  INSTITUTE. 
The  ill  effects  of  blind  rivalry  between  Ceylon 
and  India  were  illustrated  at  the  Imperial  Insti- 
tute, w'here  a monopoly,  obtained  by  Ceylon  for 
the  sale  of  its  teas  at  a cost  of  i,’300,  resulted  in  a 
heavy  loss  to  those  who  found  the  money,  and  the 
discontinuance  of  the  arrangement  at  the  close  of 
the  year. 
TREATMENT  OF  TEA  COOLIES  IN  ASSAM. 
A series  of  articles  in  a weekly  publication,  headed 
“ More  Slavery  Under  the  British  Flag,”  “ The  Free 
and  Happy  Coolie,”  &c.,  attacking  the  system  of 
recruiting,  and  indirectly  reflecting  upon  the  planting 
community  in  Assani,  having  apiieared,  and  being 
greatly  based  upon  nfisapprehensions,  Surgeon-Gene- 
ral A.  C.  C.  De  Renzy,  c.b.,  kindly  undertook  to 
reply  to  them,  and  an  able  letter  from  him  (pub- 
lished in  the  Home  anh  Colonial  Mail)  will  be  found 
in  the  appendix.  The  attention  of  the  various  Loudon 
Tea  Companies  was  called  by  the  secretary  to  the 
importance  of  giving  in  their  annual  reports  vital 
statistics  as  to  their  labour  force,  and  other  informa- 
tion evidencing  the  care  which  is  usually  taken  for  the 
coolies’  well-being  and  comfort.  This  has  been  gene- 
rally done. 
ANTWERP  INTERNATIONA!.  EXHIBITION. 
The  Indian  Planters’  Co- operative  Tea  Supply 
Association,  Limited,  supplied  Indian  tea  both  in 
cup  and  in  packet  at  the  exhibition.  Samples  of 
fine  Indian  tea,  including  those  lent  by  Messrs.  J. 
B.  Barry  and  Son,  were  shown,  and  information  as 
to  the  progress  of  the  industry  was  supplied  by 
statistical  tables  furnished  by  Messrs.  Gow,  Wilson, 
and  Stanton,  also  by  handbills.  A large  number  of 
circulars  in  Flemish  and  French  were  distributed. 
The  secretary  visited  the  exhibition  with  a member 
of  the  General  Committee,  and  a report  of  his  visit 
will  be  found  in  the  appendix.  A silver  medal  was 
awarded  to  the  exhibit. 
EMPIRE  OF  INDIA  EXHIBITION. 
Arrangements  have  been  made  for  a tea  house 
in  the  Indian  City  at  this  exhibition,  which  was 
opened  on  the  Queen’s  birthday.  Mr.  E.  F. 
Langdale,  who  is  well  known  to  the  members' 
having  previously  had  charge  of  the  Indian  Tea 
Stall  at  the  International  Health  PIxhibition,  held 
at  South  Kensington  in  1884,  has  undertaken  the 
responsibility  of  the  teahouse.  In  connection  there- 
with will  be  an  exhibit  of  Indian  teas,  and  of  other 
uiatters  of  interest  in  connection  with  tea  planting 
ill  India,  for  which  samples,  Ac.,  are  being  sent  from 
Calcutta  in  response  to  a circular  issued  by  the  As- 
sociation there.  Messrs.  Gow,  Wilson,  and  Stanton 
have  kindly  supplied  a large  coloured  diagram  illus- 
trating the  progress  made  by  British-grow'n  teas,  and 
the  falling  off  in  the  use  of  China  and  Japan  teas. 
LONDON  TEA  SW'EEPINOS. 
Various  methods  had  in  times  past  been  tried  in 
order  to  get  rid  of  the  tea  sweepings,  including  re- 
fuse and  damaged  tea.  Consigned  to  the  dust  bin, 
they  had  been  picked  out,  manufactured,  and  sold  to  the 
poor.  Burnt,  they  had  proved  a nuisance  to  the  neigh- 
bourhood. Consigned  to  the  sea  they  had  involved  a con- 
siderable exjicnse.  Their  destruction  having  been  accord- 
ingly  relinquished,  they  were  after  treatment  ex- 
ported to  the  Continent,  and  in  some  cases  found 
their  way  back  to  this  country,  and  were  sold  as 
good  tea  on  this  market.  iVfter  eousiderablc  corres- 
