6i8 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[ March  2,  1896. 
the  responsibility  were  iiiaile  to  last  two  or  three 
uays  lonjfcr,  the  sellers  wouhl  only  he  takin^r 
on  their  shoulders  that  which  they  uu^ht  to 
take  \ij)0n  their  shoulders.  For  his  own  ]>art  he 
thought  the  resoliiti(}n  was  too  modestly  frainod. 
He  should  have  inucdi  jneferred  to  see  the  live 
days  made  ten  days  but  he  was  told  that  he 
should  not  have  the  least  chance  of  getting  ten 
days  earned  and  therefore  he  accepted  half  a 
loaf  in  preference  to  no  bread.  Tlic  hardship 
came  iii  when  they  j)arted  with  their  money  for 
tea  which  was  lying,  through  no  fault  of  their 
own,  till  Monday  or  Tuesdaj^  in  other  peo]de’s  go- 
downs,  at  their  own  risk.  They  thought  the 
risk  should  rest  with  the  sellers  a sutlicient 
time  until  buyers  had  time  to  collect  their  teas. 
He  did  not  think  any  one  couhl  urge  any  ob- 
jection to  what  had  been  proposed. 
Mr.  1>0LS  asked  M'hat  was  the  time  in  Calcutta. 
JMr.  Dupi.ock  replied  that  the.  time  was  10  days. 
There,  one  did  not  pay  for  teas  until  he  trot 
tlelivery  of  them. 
Mr.  Hois  s.aid  they  had  alre.ady  pa.ssed  a re- 
solution to  give  more  time  tor  tiis ting  ; now  they 
were  proposing  to  take  that  away. 
Mr.  (iKOROK  Thomson  said  that  pas.sing  the 
resolution  would  bring  the  conditions  of  sale 
move  in  accordance  with  those  obtaining  in 
other  markets.  He  said  let  them  go  ahead 
with  the  times.  So  far  as  they  know,  the  seller 
could  store  kerosine  beside  their  tea.  The 
buyer  had  no  ])rotection. 
Mr.  GoiinoN  Fit.AZKR  although  sympathising 
with  the  motion  that  some  time  should  be 
given  to  buyers  to  take  delivery  of  their  tea, 
thought  th.at  the  gre.at  advantage  of  the  market 
to  their  upcountry  clients — i(s  quick  retiirns — 
would  be  done  away  with,  if  two  or  three  days 
were  added  to  the  time.  Speaking  for  himself 
he  would  lie  quite  prejiared  to  accept  responsibility 
f(.r  anything  that  remained  in  his  store.  He  did 
not  see  there  was  any  object  in  adding  two 
days  to  the  time,  becatise  it  took  oil'  two  days 
from  tlie  time  the  jilanter  got  his  return.  He 
umicrstood  from  Mr.  Diijilock  that  it  was  not  a 
matter  of  payment  and  that  they  were  jierfectly 
prepared  to  pay  at  once. 
Mr.  Dupi.ock  replied  that  he  spoke  for  him- 
self, personally.  He  would  pay  for  his  tea  on 
Thnr.sday  .afternoon.  lint  they  never  got  their 
accounts  until  they  had  dunned  sellers  to  .send 
them  in. 
Mr.  AVat.kkp.  <lid  not  consiiler  there  was  any 
use  extending  the  lime  for  delivery  until  they 
extended  the  time  for  iiaymcnt.  'i’he  planter 
would  not  get  his  money  any  sooner  until  the 
buyer  know  whether  his  tea  was  idght  or  wrong. 
At  this  stage,  Mr.  (toRUoN  Frazkr,  after 
consultation  with  other  members,  withdrew  his 
motion. 
The  Chair, M.\N  said  the  (luestion  on  which 
?dr.  I'razer  thought  it  would  be  better  to  move 
an  amendment  was  one  t liat  was  di.scussed  ; and 
they  felt  it  was  imiK.s.sibh'  to  sei);irate  the  two 
days— taking  dc'livciy  of  tea  and  the  matter 
of  payment. 
'I’he  Hon.  W.  W.  M iTClt i;i.i,  said  the  resolution 
must  be  looked  at  from  two  points  of  view,  the 
buyer’s  ]>oint  of  view  and  the  seller’s  point,  of 
view.  'I'lic  rosedntion  had  been  put  forward  in 
the  buyer’s  interests. 
'Phe  Chairman  In  the  general  interest,  if  I 
may  say  so. 
Mr.  i\l  ri'inii;i,i,  (proceeding)  said  he  .sympathi.sed 
with  the  buyer  who  could  not  take  dolii  cry  with.in 
a certain  specified  time,  but  he  was  of  opinion 
that  the  longer  time  tliey  gave  people  the  longer 
would  they  take,  ami  he  was  afraitl  people  would 
not  send  in  their  bills  until  Monday  or  Tne.<ilay, 
and  then  they  would  have  no  relief.  L'mler  the 
present  system  they  cleared  ofl‘  one  week’s 
work  before  they  took  another  on  hand. 
Tf  they  went  to  take  delivery  of  teas  on 
Monday  they  would  clash  witli  teas  coming 
from  upcountry  that  day.  J.ooking  at  it 
from  the  seller’s  [)oint  of  view  or  the  uroker’s, 
he  would  have  to  provitle  a larger  amount  of 
warehouse  or  godown  accommodation.  (Cries  of 
“Hear,  hear,”  and  “So  they  ought.”)  M’hy  should 
he  be  obliged  to  do  that? 
The  Chairm.vn  : — Hec.ause  it  is  his  duty  (and  a 
voice  “ He  is  paid  for  it”). 
Mr.  Mitchei.i.  continuing  remarked  that  for 
his  own  part  he  had  not  felt  any  inconvenience.  He 
would  rather  see  the  rub?  as  it  was,  because  he 
felt  that  any  alteration  would  simply  lead  to 
confusion  at  the  lieginning  of  the  week. 
Mr.  FiCiG  s.oid,  with  reference  to  what  had 
fallen  from  the  Hon.  Mr.  Mitchell,  that  up  to 
a recent  time  the  tea  trade  of  the  Colony  hail  been 
a small  one  and  they  were  only  ju.st  now  on  level 
terms  with  bigger  markets  like  ('alcutta  where 
he  believed  the  time  w.as  10  days.  As  their  busi- 
ness increased,  so  must  the  time  which  was 
allowed.  If  tlie  necessity  of  godown  accom- 
modation aro.se  such  accommodation  must  be 
provided  for.  It  had  got  nothing  to  do  with 
the  buyer,  .and  he  vvas  sure  the  planter  had  got 
everything  in  reason,  and  they  were  ready  to  meet 
the  planter  in  every  way  jiossible,  but  the  proposal 
before  the  meeting  was  nothing  more  th.an  w.as 
rc.asomable. 
The  resolution  was  then  put  to  the  meeting 
and  c.arried,  Mr.  Mitchell  being  understood  to 
di.ssent. 
Mr.  A.  H.  Tho.mI’.son  asked  when  the  live  days 
terminated. 
'Phe  Chi.MRMAN  said  he  should  say  up  to  one 
o’clock. 
Mr.  Dui’LOCK  said  he  w.as  in  favour  of  5 
o’clock. 
Several  members  expre.ssed  the  opinion  that 
it  should  be  u]i  to  the  close  of  banking  hours 
on  'Puesilay. 
'Phe  Ch.urm.vn  coneuned  and  this  bcc.ame  the 
understanding  of  the  meeting. 
Mr  Cordon  Frazer  suggested  that  it  would 
facilitate  the  working  of  the  traile  fiom  the 
broker’s  point  of  view  by  ihc  cessation  of  con- 
tracts for  the  sale  of  tea.  Tiiis  was  not  done 
in  J.ondon,  .and  he  never  heard  of  its  being  done 
anywhere  else.  To  a seller  a contract  was 
necessary,  Imt  what  more  contr.act  ilid  a buyer 
want  than  the  knocking  down  of  the  iiammer? 
It  would  insure  the  quicker  delivery  of  ac- 
counts if  they  were  allowed  to  waive  this 
contr.act. 
Mr.  Dupi.ock  said  the  contract  was  in  force 
ii  ( '.ilcntta.  For  himself,  personally,  ho  never 
i'.iokci!  at  his  contract,  but  consigned  it  straight- 
w.ty  to  the  waste-pai)er  ba-sket.  (bangliter. ) 
.Mr.  Cdrddn  Fr.\zi;r  saiil  it  was  ne\’or  en- 
forced in  Imndon  and  he  (lionght  it  u'.a.s  use- 
les.s.  If  it,  woikod  well  in  London,  he  did  not 
see  why  it  should  not  be  .a|qdicahle  in  Colombo. 
'Phe  Chairman  remarked  that  lumbably  the 
Committee  wouhl  consider  tin'  jioint. 
'Pile  im.u'ling  then  (ermin.aled  with  ,a  vote  of 
t h.anks  to  the  Chairman  proposed  by  Mr.  Fum. 
