March  2,  1896.]  THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
627 
CENTRAL  TRAVANCORE  PLANTERS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
From  the  jiroceedingfi  of  the  annual  general  meet" 
ing,  liehl  on  tlie  Jtli  Jan.,  we  extract  the  follow' 
ing 
ANNUAL  REPORT,  189o. 
The  United  Planters'  Association,  the  importance 
and  value  of  which  we  recognise  more  and  more,  held 
its  Annual  General  Meeting  in  August.  It  is  unneces- 
ary  to  allude  to  the  proceedings  as  they  have  already 
been  laid  before  you.  but  there  are  two  matters  on 
which  I would  touch.  The  first  of  these  is  the  funds  of 
the  Association.  Everybody  must  admit  that,  for  an 
Association  representing  some  millions  sterling  capital 
and  about  three-fourth  million  sterling  annual 
expenditure,  these  are  in  a most  unsatisfactory  posi- 
tion. It  is  likely  that  a scheme  will  shortlj'  be  laid 
before  you  to  remedy  this  matter,  and  it  is  most  ear- 
nestly to  be  hoped  that  all  proprietors  will  come  for- 
ward and  give  it  their  hearty  support  both  materially 
and  morally. 
The  second  point  is  the  Deputation  to  His  Excel- 
lency the  Viceroy  on  the  subject  of  our  labour  laws  and 
the  amelioration  therein  wc  require. 
It  was  most  unfortunate  that.  Just  at  this  juncture, 
an  irresponsible  correspondence  should  have  been  ap- 
pearing in  the  Public  Press  on  the  question  of  advances, 
some  letters  emphatically  denouncing  these  as  useless, 
llis  Excellency  naturally  laid  groat  stress  on  the  diver- 
gence of  opinions  on  this  point  among  planters  them- 
selves. Now  Mr.  Chairman,  I myself,  though  I 
have  taken  some  pains  to  make  enquiries,  have  never 
met  a planter  of  any  experience  who  has  not  looked 
on  advances  as  a matter  o^,  absolute  necessity,  and  I 
am  therefore  led  to  believe  that  the  assertions  as  to 
their  inutility  emanated  from  the  younger  portion  of 
our  community.  I would  do  all  in  my  power  to  en- 
courage writing  to  the  Press  and  nobody  can  begin  too 
early,  but  we  are  none  of  us  infallible,  not  even  the 
youngest  of  us,  and  I would  therefore  lU'ge  those  who 
are  only  beginning  their  career,  not  to  dogmatise  on 
matters  of  public  interest,  of  which  they  are  hardly 
competent  to  Judge.  I may  add  that  my  opinion  on  the 
question  of  advances  is  backed  by  the  Committee 
whom  1 have  consulted. 
Land  Sales. — Another  step  forward  this  year  was  the 
re-institution  after  a lapse  of  nearly  twenty  j-ears  of 
Public  Sales  of  Waste  Lands,  and  it  is  much  to  be 
hoped  that  these  will  be  continued,  there  being  un- 
bounded room  in  Travancoro  for  the  expansion  of  the 
Tea  and  Coffee  Industries. 
Tea  AND  Coffee  Theft. — There  is  much  to  be  de- 
sired as  regards  legislation  in  this  direction,  but  we 
can  expect  nothing  from  H.  H.  Government  until  the 
Supreme  Government  has  led  the  way. 
Local  Tea  Sales. — With  unanimous  consent  Messrs. 
J.  Grieve  & Co.  were  appointed  Sole  Agents  for  the 
Association.  These  gentlemen  have  done  much  in  ex- 
posing local  traders  making  use  of  fraudulent  marks 
and  selling  thereunder  spurious  teas  purporting  to  be 
the  produce  of  this  district.  I trust  that  the  arrange- 
ments now  made  will  go  far  to  check  this  trade 
Estates  on  Association. — All  estates  in  the  district 
have  been  borne  on  the  roll  of  the  Association  in  the 
past  year,  but  it  is  very  much  to  be  regretted  that  no 
representative  has  attended  from  the  Chenkara 
Group.  These  valuable  and  extensive  properties  have 
most  unfortunately  been  placed  under  the  charge  of  a 
writer,  a fact  to  be  deplored  both  in  the  interests  of  the 
Association  and  of  the  estates  themselves. 
Indian  American  Tea  I'und. — Members  are  to  be 
most  heartily  congratulated  on  their  response  to  the 
appeal  made  to  them  for  this  fund.  Every  estate  and 
almost  every  Superintendent  subscribed,  and  the  As- 
sociation which  remitted  the  very  substomtial  sum  of 
Rl,500  has  again  received  the  special  thanks  of 
the.  Indian  Tea  Association.  The  past  year  has 
seen  an  average  decline  of  fully  Id  per  lb.  in  the 
Tea  Market,  and  I would  warn  members  that 
a recovery  in  the  coming  season  is  unlikely.  The 
estimates'  for  the  year  have  not  yet  appeared,  but 
there  can  be  little  doubt  that,  given  favourable  weather, 
there  will  be  an  increased  yield  both  from  India  ana 
Ceylon.  For  this  annually  increasing  production  an 
outlet  must  be  found.  Mr.  Elechynden,  our  repre- 
sentative, is  doing  admirable  work  for  us  in  America, 
and  his  efforts  are  beginning  to  bear  fruit  ; but  to 
continue  the  campaign  the  sinews  of  war  must  be 
forthcoming,  and  I would  therefore  urge  members  by 
every  means  in  my  power  to  respond  as  liberally  in 
the  present  season  to  the  appeal  that  is  certain  to 
be  made  for  funds  as  they  have  done  in  the  past. 
It  is  practically  a Life  Insurance  Fund,  for  on  the 
success  of  the  American  campaign  in  a large  measure 
depends  our  own  prosperity,  and  after  all  the  sum 
asked  for  from  each  individual  estate  is  inliuitesiinal 
as  compared  with  the  interests  at  stake.  It  is  satis- 
factory to  note  that  coffee  cultivation  is  again 
springing  up  in  the  district,  and  this  too  with  every 
prospect  of  success.  I heartily  congratulate  the 
euterprizing  gentlemen  who  have  extended  their  oper- 
ations in  this  direction.  It  only  remains  for  me 
to  thank  you,  Mr.  Chairman,  and  the  members 
of  the  Committee  for  the  support  you  have  accorded 
me  in  the  past  year. 
I now  beg  to  lay  the  accounts  on  the  table  and 
place  my  resignation  in  your  hands. 
Granville  L.  Acavortii, 
Honorary  Secretary, 
Central  Travancore  Planters’  Association. 
On  the  conclusion  of  the  above,  the  Chairman  said 
he  wished,  before  moving  the  adoption  of  the  Report, 
to  say  that  he  heartily  concurred  with  every  word 
that  had  been  said  by  the  Honorary  Secretary  on 
the  subject  of  advances,  that  he  considered  some 
form  of  advance  absolutely  necessary,  and  he  would 
later,  with  the  permission  of  the  Meeting,  move  a 
resolution ' relating  thereto.  He  now.  begged  to  move 
that  the  Honorary  Secretary’s  Report  be  adopted 
and  the  accounts  passed. 
Carried  nem.  con. 
The  Chairman,  who  signed  his  intention  to  decline 
re-election,  and  the  other  officers  having  resigned, 
Mr.  Goldie  was  requested  to  take  the  chair  jtro  tem., 
when  the  election  of  officers  for  the  current  year 
was  proceeded  with.  The  result  of  the  ballot  was  : — 
F.  M.  Parker,  Chairman ; G.  L.  Acworth,  Hony.  Secy.; 
S.  M.  Dighton,  R.  H.  Goldie,  and  R.  S.  Iinray,  Com- 
mittee. 
Mr.  Diohton,  in  moving  a vote  of  thanks  to  the 
retiring  officers,  congratulated  the  Association  on  its 
strong  position  and  vigorous  life,  asserting  that  it 
had  done  more  good  in  the  past  two  years  than  in 
the  whole  course  of  its  previous  existence.  Mr. 
Laurie  seconded  the  resolution,  which  was  carried 
unanimously. 
Proposed  by  Mr.  Imray,  seconded  by  Mr.  Goldie, 
“ That  this  Association  endorses  the  resolution 
passed  by  the  Wynaad  Association,  and  considers 
some  form  of  advance  as  necessary  to  the  existence  of 
our  industry.” 
Carried  nem.  con. 
Fire  Insurance  on  Tea  Factories.— The  Hon- 
orary Secretary  drew  the  attention  of  the 
Meeting  to  the  fact  that  the  principal  In- 
surance Companies  in  London  had  raised  the  rates 
of  premium  in  S.  India  to  what  he  himself  could  not 
but  think  was  an  unjustifiablo  extent,  a well- equipped 
factory  now  costing  some  Rc.  1-1  to  Rc.  per 
cent,  per  annum.  There  was  considerable  discussion 
on  the  subject  which,  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Imray, 
it  was  eventually  agreed  to  refer  to  the  Committee, 
who  should  h.ave  full  power  of  action. 
llesolved  that  the  subscription  for  the  current  year 
be  at  the  rate  of  2 annas  per  acre. 
Mr.  Acworth  reminded  members  that  he  had  given 
notice  that  he  would  call  attention  to  Mr.  Knight’s 
suggestion,  that  this  Association  should  amalgamate 
with  that  of  South  Travancore.  For  his  part  he  was 
strongly  opposed  to  the  idea.  In  the  first  place  the 
Association  was  quite  strong  enough  to  stand  alone,  and 
he  thought  the  argument  that  it  would  be  to  its  interests 
to  have  a Secretary  in  the  Capital  would  not  hold 
water.  The  Association  was  much  more  likely  to 
keep  in  touch  with  II.  II.  Government  by  communi- 
cating with  that  Government  direct  than  by  doing 
so  in  a roundabout  way  through  a paid  Secretary 
in  Trevandrum.  Moreover  the  Association  had  the 
advantage  of  the  presence  of  the  British  Resident 
