THE  TROPICAL  AGRICCJLTURIST. 
407 
Dec.  2.  1895.] 
Now  the  second  resolution  (13)  regarding  com- 
pulsory monthly  payments,  calls  for  unpleasant 
comment  in  its  singular  position. 
If  it  had  stood  honestly  (though  mistakenly)  alone, 
it  could  have  been  dealt  w'ith  b}'  itself,  but 
from  the  way  the  “ set  ” of  resolutions  is  worded  it 
reads  as  if  the  Hon.  G.  F.  V/alker  thought  he  was 
making  a concession  to  somebody.  ^Yhich  is  it  the 
Government  or  the  cooly  ? and  that  in  return  for 
the  Government  granting  the  demand  of  the  first 
resolutioir,  be  implied  approval  of  compulsory  monthly 
payments  proposed  in  the  second,  now  there  is  here. 
Something  very  wrong,  for  the  1st  claim  is  not 
founded  on  the  general  practice  among  coolies  and 
his  2nd  claim  if  a just  one  should  be  granted  with- 
out any  quid  pro  quo.  Why  should  any  (supposed) 
concession  be  made.  Moreover  what  is  conceded  ? 
Every  planter  in  Ceylon  may  at  this  moment  if 
he  chooses  pay  his  coolies  monthly.  Yet,  it  is  no 
exaggeration  to  say  that  not  7 per  cent  of  planters 
do  it.  Why  not  ? Because,  now,  as  in  the  past,  it 
is  found  to  have  no  advantage  whatever ; none  to 
the  manager  for  he  has  more  trouble  and  recovers 
less  of  his  advances  at  a time,  and  the  same  disad- 
vantage meets  the  kangani  also  for  same  reason 
and  on  this  account  he  is  (■oiiq)ellcd  to  issue  more 
advances  for  weekly  requirement  to  his  coolies,  and 
also  it  is  a disadvantage  to  the  coolie  because  he 
gets  less  pay  in  his  hand  at  a time.  Mr.  Giles 
Walker  and  others  who  agree  with  him  will 
say  the  cooly  is  wrong  and  that  it  must  be  to 
his  advantage  and  if  be  can’t  see  it,  he  must 
be  taught  and  made  to  see  it  by  legislation. 
Curious  how  legislation,  medical  legislation,  hope- 
lessly failed  in  these  directions  years  ago  and, 
the  cooly  can’t  see  it  even  yet ! 
Let  the  champions  of  monthly  payments  state  the 
reasons  for  their  belief — of  several  who  have  adopted 
the  system,  not  one  gives  assurance  that  either  he 
or  his  coolies  are  any  better  for  the  change. 
The  neighbouring  coolies  do  not  rush  off  in  crowds 
to  the  gentleman  who  pays  monthly  to  seize  the 
advantages  he  is  supposed  to  thrust  on  them.  He 
is  not  better  off  than  his  neighbours,  his  advances 
don’t  seem  to  be  less  than  bis  neighbour  or  better 
secured.  But  that  is  his  own  affair,  let  him  pay 
monthly  as  every  planter  can  if  he  wishes  to.  What 
I want  to  know  is  why  should  monthly  payments 
of  coolies  Be  compulsont.  Not  long  ago  the  leading 
planter  in  East  Matale  mentioned  that  his  coolies  had 
begged  him  to  postpone  paying  one  month  and  pay  two 
so  that  for  Tee  Vali  they  might  have  more  in  hand. 
’That  gentleman,  I believe,  is  also  a great  champion 
of  monthly  payments.  It  is  presumed  that  he  pocketed 
his  principles  and  accommodated  his  coolies,  but 
does  this  gentleman  want  legislation  to  prevent  his 
meeting  the  wishes  of  his  coolies  and  strengthen  the 
backbone  of  such  principles.  Monthly  payments,  I 
advocate  for  all  who  wish,  weekly  even  if  they  please, 
but  not  compulsorj-.  I myself  was  requested  by 
Sinhalese  villagers  a few  months  ago  to  keep  2 month's 
pay,  yet  there  were  people  who  once  were  paid  every 
week.  J.  M. 
TEA  FREE  OF  DUTY  IN  WESTERN 
AUSTRALIA. 
Coloinho,  Oct.  28. 
Sir, — I beg  to  inform  you,  that  I liave  re- 
ceivetl  advices  from  Western  Australia,  that  there 
is  now  no  duty  on  tea  entering  tlitit  part  of  tlio 
Australian  Continent. — Yours  faithfully, 
E.  B.  CREASY. 
[Well  done,  tlieyoungest  Gold  Colony  ! — Ed,  T.A.'] 
THE  LABOUR  QUESTION. 
Kotmalie,  Oct.  .31st. 
Dear  Sir, — It  is  ditlicult  to  understand  wh.at 
“Well-known  Planter”  would  have  us  do  un- 
less it  be  to  destroy  our  ailvance  notes,  Wjiteoll 
all  outstanding  advances  and  give  the  cooly  a 
fresh  start  w'ith  a clean  sheet  and  compulsory 
monthly  payments.  A very  drastic  remedy  most 
l)lanters  wall  admit  anil  w'orthy  of  the  strongest 
of  rank  Socialists. 
How  long  might  I ask  “ Well-known  Plainer  ” 
would  such  a happy  state  e.xi.st  were  e."ch  cooly 
and  kangany  relieved  of  his  indebte<lne.ss  to  the 
estate  NVhat  would  be  the  consequence  of  such 
action.  I I’enture  to  say  that  the  .advance  ques- 
tion would  lie  in  a far  worse  case  six  months 
afterwards  than  it  is  at  the  present  time.  F'a- 
vourite  estates  would  be  overstocked  with  labour, 
while  estates  with  new  clearing  work  or  lorn-- 
and  unwieldy  transport  of  tea  chests,  be  deprived 
of  the  leipiisite  labour  and  again  have  to  resort 
to  advances  or  if  advances  were  illegal,  oiler  in- 
creased w.ages  which  would  be  still  more  d,ama'nn<>- 
the  tea  industry.  ” ° 
Coast  Advances,  we  must  give  if  we  are  to 
continue  drawing  on  Inilia  for  our  labour  supply. 
We  must  therefore  have  kanganies  to  recruit  ami 
pay  out  our  aihances. 
'The  Coast  cooly  demands,  and  rightly  .so  I 
think,  an  advance  of  money  to  leave  with  rela- 
tives who  have  been  depending  upon  him  for 
support,  and  this  probably  .accounts  to  a great 
extent  for  the  many  inherited  debts  which  A\e 
hear  of  among  our  imolies. 
The  “tundu”  .system  is  almost  solely  to 
blame  for  any  difticulties  we  have  with  our 
labour  force.  We  did  very  well  without  it 
twenty-live  ye.ars  ago.  It  is  however  an  excellent 
thing  in  itself ; but  is  in  every  instance  abu.sed 
both  by  planters  and  coolies,  I'joth  using  it  at 
times  as  a threat  when  any  diil'erence,  serious  or 
trilling,  arises. 
It  is  this  indiscriminate  and  thoughtless 
giving  of  tundus  th.at  has  increased  the 
indebtedness  of  our  coolies,  and  the  evil 
becomes  worse  each  year  as  the  bu.sy  jduck- 
ing  season  comes  round,  and  I .see  no  hope 
of  a bettei  state  of  allair.s  till  some  combined 
.action  is  introduced  in  regard  to  the  i.ssuino’ 
of  tundus.  Only  the  other  day  two  gangs  each 
of  six  coolies  were  engaged  on  tundus  for 
R38U  and  R3o5  respectively  for  an  estate  in 
this  district. 
My  experience  of  the  cooly  is  that  he  prefers 
having  his  ji.ay  every  two  months.  I have  tried 
monthly  p.ayments  and  never  found  them  satis- 
factory. On  one  occ.a.sion  the  money  was  in  the 
bungalow  to  pay  for  one  month  .and  I was 
asked  by  the  coolies  .at  muster  to  return  it  to 
the  Chetty  .and  wait  till  they  could  be  paid 
for  two  months.  ^ 
Monthly,  or  even  weekly  payments  will  not 
keep  Ram.asamy  out  of  debt.  The  greater  his 
indebtedness,  the  more  important  .a*^person  he 
considers  himself.  Were  he  paid  every  Saturday 
the  whole  in  most  c.a.ses  would  go  on  Sunday  and 
after  the  manner  of  the  English  miner  he  would 
live  on  credit  till  the  next  payday. 
A.  F.  S. 
CEYl.ON  'TEA  IN  AMERICA. 
Dear  Sir,— It  was  with  great  interest,  I read  Mr. 
MacKenzie’s  letter  appearing  in  your  columns  of 
the  5th  inst  , regarding  advertising  in  the  journals, 
etc.,  in  the  United  States. 
I think  that  in  your  leader,  you  have  sounded 
the  key-note  of  success.  Popular  Lectures  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Ceylon  and  Ceylon  Teas,  will,  without  doubt, 
be  one  of  the  best  means  of  attaining  the  end  in 
view.  It  is  a well-known  fact  that  lectures  are  very 
much  appreciated  by  Americans  of  all  classes.  ^ 
I know  of  no  more  interesting  series  of  lerfureB 
than  the  following  would  be : — 
First— Ceylon,  The  Spicy  Isle,  Illustrated  by  Lime 
Light  Views,  ■ 
