Nov.  r,  1895]  THE  TROMCAl.  AGRICULTURIST.  349 
THE  CEYLON  IMPORT  DUTY  ON  TEA 
AND  SOUTH  INDIAN  PLANT EKS. 
Sir,— With  reference  In  the  enclosed  circular, 
letter  please  give  it  at-Le.i.iun  as  sent  to  your  care 
carefully  seeing  to  return  to  me  all  the  accom- 
panying papers. — 1 am,  &c. , 
A.  PHILIP,  Secretary. 
Kandy,  Oct.  19th,  1S9.5. 
(Copy.) 
Colonial  Secretary’s  Office,  Colombo,  July  23rd, 
1895. 
Sir, — I am  desired  by  His  Excellency  the  Go- 
vernor to  transmit  to  you  the  accompanying  copy 
of  a letter  from  the  Secretary  United  Planters’ 
Association  of  Southern  India  relative  to  the 
import  levied  on  tea,  and  to  a.sk  your  Associa- 
tion to  be  good  enou^li  to  favour  the  Government 
with  an  expression  of  their  views  on  this  subject. — 
I am,  sir,  (Signed)  H.  L.  Crawford,  for  Colonial 
Secretary. 
The  Secretary,  Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon. 
[copy  of  letter  from  the  secretary,  united 
planters’  association  or  southern  INDIA, 
TO  HIS  excellency  THE  GOVERNOR  OF 
CEYLON.] 
To  His  Excellency  Sir  Arthur E.  Havelock,  g.c.m.g.. 
Governor  of  Ceylon. 
A''our  Excellency, — I have  the  honour  to  address 
you  on  behalf  of  this  Association  regarding  the 
import  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  seve;  al  years,  is 
quite  unremunerative  to  the  revenues  of  Your  Excel- 
lency’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  are  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  planteis  of 
Southern  India,  but  also  in  those  of  Ceylon  itself. 
The  Association  would  respectfully  advance  the 
opinion  that  whilst  no  possible  injury  would  be  in- 
flicted 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-kuQjvn  that  both  for  the  London  and  the 
Colonial  markets  each  of  the  teas  finds  a ready  sale 
when  blended;  and  it  w'ould  be  a distinct  advantage 
to  both  Countries  if  the  blending  could  be  performed  in 
Ceylon  instead  of  at  the  various  Ports  of  sale. 
I am  further  directed  to  point  out  that  the  natural 
market  for  Southern  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  case. 
In  conclusion,  I am  to  ask  for  Your  Excellency’s 
best  consideration  of  the  prayer  of  the  Association, 
and— I have,  &c.  (Signed)  G.  L.  York,  (?)Secretary. 
Kandy,  Aug.  19th. 
To  the  Hon’ble,  the  Colonial  Secretary,  Colombo. 
Sir, — Having  duly  laid  your  letter  of  the  2.3rd  July, 
and  the  accompamying  copy  of  a letter  from  the  Se- 
cretary, United  Planters’  Association  of  Southern  In- 
dia, relative  to  the  import  duty  levied  on  tea,  before 
the  Committee  of  the  Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon 
at  a recent  meeting,  I have  now  the  honour  to  invite 
your  attention  to  the  annexed  copy  of  the  resolution 
passed  on  the  subject — I am.  Ac.,  A.  Philip,  Secre- 
tary to  the  Planters’  Association  of  'Ceylon. 
(Resolution  refen'ed  to:~) 
“ That,  in  reply,  it  be  stated  that  in  the  opinien  of 
the  Committee  it  would  be  highly  detrimental  to  the 
interests  of  Ceylon  Tea  that  the  prayer  of  the  peti- 
tion from  the  United  Planters’  Association  of  Sou- 
thei-n  India  be  granted.  That  Ceylon  has  for  many 
years  worked  hard  tq  introduce  her  teas  into  foreign 
countries  and  to  raise  their  credit  for  purity,  and,  now, 
that  some  success  has  been  achieved,  it  seems  unwise 
to  admit  other  countries  on  equal  terms  to  the  jeo- 
pardy of  Ceylon’s  interests.  That,  regarding  the  ques- 
tion of  blending,  the  Committee  desires  Hgaiu  to  draw 
the  attention  of  Government  to  the  Resolution  on 
the  subject  transmitted  to  Government  with  the  Se- 
cretary’s letter  of  the  20th  January,  1894,  which  Re- 
solution, and  connected  statement,  the  Committee  again 
fully  endorses.” 
Colonial  Secretary's  Office,  Cjlombo,  29th  August, 
1895. 
Sir,— In  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  your  letter 
of  the  19th  August,  1895,  relative  to  the  Import 
Duty  levied  on  tea,  I am  directed  to  inform  you  that 
the  proposals  contained  in  the  resolution  trans- 
mitted with  your  letter  of  the  26th  January, 
1894,  to  which  you  draw  my  attention,  as  offering 
a protection  sgainst  the  dangers  of  removing  the 
import  duty  on  tea,  did  not  seem  practicable  for  any 
action  of  the  Colonial  Government,  under  the 
Merchandise  Marks  Ordinance  of  Ceyhm,  inasmuch 
as  its  provisions  apply  only  to  any  falsa  trade  des- 
cription as  to  the  place  or  country  in  which  any 
goods  wire  made  or  produced,  and  to  the  material 
of  which  any  goods  are  composed,  and  has  no  opera- 
tion at  home  where  the  fraud  would  be  committed. 
2.  It  would,  therefore,  apparently  be  for  exporters 
of  blended  and  unblended  tea  to  adopt  Trade  Marks 
to  seek  protection  from  any  fraud  in  blending  in 
('ey Ion  by  means  of  registration  under  the  Imperial 
Act  and  of  vigilance  in  the  markets  of  Europe  and 
elsewhere. 
3.  I am  to  say,  however,  t'nat  any  detailed  sug- 
gestions by  which  the  local  Government  could  apply 
the  provisions  of  this  Ordin.ance,  in  order  to  caiTy 
out  the  proposal  effectively,  will  receive  attentive  con- 
sideration, with  a view,  if  possible,  of  meeting  the 
wishes  of  the  United  Planters’  Association  of 
Southern  India,  an  object  which  the  Governor  believes 
that  your  Association  would  desire  to  attain. — I am, 
&c.,  (Signed)  H.  L.  Crawford,  for  Colonial  Secy. 
The  Secretary  Planters’  Association  if  Ceylon, 
Kandy. 
Sept.  23rd,  1895, 
The  Hon.  Colonial  Secretary,  Colombo. 
Sir, — Your  letter  of  the  29th  August  to  the  Secretary 
having  been  forwarded  to  me  for  my  perusal,  I deem 
the  matter  of  so  much  importance  that  I reply  to  it, 
merely  stating  at  the  same  time  that  your  letter  and 
copy  of  this  reply  shall  be  laid  before  the  next  Com- 
mittee meeting  of  the  Association. 
2.  I have  the  honour  to  point  out  that  While  the 
Association  in  no  way  desires  to  actively  injure  the 
interests  of  the  planters  of  South  In  lia,  yet  it  in  no 
way  sees  that  the  planters  of  South  India  hive  any 
claim  for  favourable  consideration  at  the  expense  of 
Ceylon  planters.  The  Planting  Community  of  Ceylon 
and  unquestionably  also  the  Mercantile  Community, 
are  of  opinion  that  the  removal  of  the  Import  Duty 
on  tea  would  be  injurious  to  the  interests  of  the 
Ceylon  tea  enterprise. 
8.  The  desire  of  the  Ceylon  Planting  and  Mer- 
cantile Communities  is  that  the  duty  may  not  bo 
removed  or  clianged  in  any  way,  because  while 
acting  as  in  some  measure  a protection  against 
South  Indian  tea  being  re-exported  as  Ceylon  tea 
it  in  no  way  hinders  South  Indian  planters  selling 
their  produce  in  the  Colombo  market  in  bond.  This  is 
in  fact  is  now  do  e,  and  the  statement  made  by  the 
United  Planters’  Association  that  their  teas  are 
shut  out  is  therefore  ii  acc irate. 
4.  As  regards  blending,  the  Association  is  unable  to 
see  that  it  is  in  any  way  cinducive  to  the  interests  of 
Ceylon  tea  to  facilitate  further  than  at  present  the 
opportunities  for  blending.  Rut  if  further  facilities  are 
given,  the  Association  is  of  opinion  that  absolute  pre- 
caution should  be  taken  that  no  blended  tea  can  possibli/ 
be  exported  as  Ceylon  tea.  Unless  that  object  can  be 
fully  attained,  the  Association,  I feel  sure,  would  de- 
sire that  further  facilities  should  not  be  given. 
5.  Owing  to  the  tenor  of  the  third  paragraph  of 
your  letter  under  reply,  I venture  to  hope  that  the 
Government  of  Ceylon  will,  so  far  as  it  legitimately 
