SmuMBER T, t 89 f.] TM> Y»»6P10AL AQRICULTUftlST. 
SOI 
TIIK SOUTH INDIAN J’LANTING INDUSTRY 
AND THK LABOUR SUPPLY. 
It appeats to as that a serioiu otilU ia tbe Plant- 
ing Incmstry of Southern India can only be avoided 
by prompt action on the part of the different Asso- 
oiationa. It ia will within the cognisance of our 
Planting readers that during the year 1890 all estatee, 
in addition to the terrible injury and loss uf crop 
oocasioDod by leaf disease and an abnormal atrooe- 
pherio disturbance, suffered very considerably from 
want of a sufficient labour sopply, Tbe reason of this 
we have not far to seek. All the estates in the 
Wynaad, Ooorg and Mysore Distrlots have for years 
past looked to the Mysore country at the chief source 
from which they could draw the necessary labour to 
cnltivato their estates and harvest their crops. Com* 
petition has been very keen and tbe Canarere 
cooly has been pampered to his heart's content. On 
naoU estate lieSfy advances have been given to 
the same maiatries and for the same coolies 
year by yeor, advances never really reooveted, but 
only tabled at the oed of each working sea- 
son, to be again immediately advanced, with an ad- 
ditiou, more or less, on a fresh contract. Also it 
is not at all nnusual for a dishonest maistry to take 
advanocs during a single season from two or more 
estates, and divide his labour-supplying powers in 
proportion. Under such a system both maisfries and 
coolies Iiave grown rich and indopendout, land lias 
been taken up in Mysore, fields cultivated and bcusos 
bnilt with the Plau'er’s money ; year by year the 
advent of the coolies to the estates has been jioft- 
pouod and, whilst formerly coolies used to return 
rognlerly to the estates by tbe end ot May or early 
ill .lune. last fonion it was well on in jaeptemker 
before they made their appearai.e'. We arc aware 
that duiitig the present sea.sou labour is more abundant, 
but what happened last year may recur during any 
year, and tbe estates will suffer. AVo wonld iuipreos 
on our I’lauting friends that if they wish to secure 
a steady aud suffioiont supply of labour, other etisiricts 
must ho tapped ; there are thousands of coolies in 
the Bou'.herH district-, and a proper orRanisatiou is 
.all that is needed to resp the hencHts of their ser- 
vices. Mysore is played out, and can never again 
anpply all the labour required for the existing coffco 
ciuohona, and wbal wo hope is the growing tea iudiulry. 
We are quite aware that we shall bo met hero with 
arguments that it is not the slightest nse endeavouring 
to draw labour from the Tamil country under tho 
oxiatiog condition of the labonr laws of the country, 
and wiih especial reforeueo to tho working of Act 
XIII. of Ifl.W, and we quite agree, hut what wo would 
urge is agitation. The Government onght to ho fully 
aware of tho immense importance to the country of 
tho Planting iiiduBtry, and wo cannot hut think that 
if reasonable representations are made to them hy an 
united body, snob representations will receive full con- 
sideration. By an nnited body we do not m(an the 
oommnnications of any one Asaooiation. Wo recognise 
the work that has been hitherto done by the various 
AssoeiatiooR, and more especially by tho AYynaad 
PUnlers’ ABsnciaticn, which has never ceased to be 
active since its original formation in 1859, bnt wo 
say the time has come for tho iinifiuation of all iho 
various Associations in Wynaad, Travanc.ite, Ooor,j 
and Mysore, with one ooramun object — the welfare of 
tho whole plsuliog oommanity. Thera need be no 
jealonsy ; apart from small local interests, tbero will 
always bo the one great question in oomniun, an effi- 
cient labonr supply, and other qup..slion.s, snob as cattio 
trespass, Ao., aro ot equal intorost to all Recently 
there has been an approach to a ni ifieation of interests 
amongst tbe different Assoeiations a- witness tho united 
petitions as rogar.la tho Cattle Trespass Act, and 
the more rreent one, now in course ot cousi- 
deratimi, coiiceining the werking or rather tho in- 
operiitivenosB nf ilm Goiitroct Act XIII. of litiV.t, bnt 
our planting friends will pardon us if we argue that 
this is not enough. They must march with the times 
iiiiJ follow the example of tho Oonimoroinl and Trades 
Unions at Home, aud so work togetiiur as to exorl the 
utmost possible pressure on the Clovorumeiit of tho day. 
2G 
It cannot be denied that representatioDS from a Central 
Assooiation, composed of delegatea from the different 
bodies and empowered to present a united front on all 
questions of genoral intWoits, would have far raoie 
power than the casual and intermittent complaints 
Iri tr Wjnsad Travanoore, Ooorg and Mysore. Tbe 
oaso of Ceylon is onalogons. In ihst colony there was 
originally only one Association, the Ceylon Planters’ 
Association j u tbe estates inoiossed, and new distrii ts 
were opened up, other and loosl Aisooiations were 
formed, but in a few years it was ffiuiid ceresiary to 
combine, and all the various bodies found it to tuelr 
iuteroat to affiliate with tbe Parent Aasooiatien and 
present a united front on all qnoslions of general 
interest. They did more than this ; they never rested 
UQtil their siatni was so far reooguised as to lead to 
the appointment of a Plantirg Member of Oounoil. It 
is almost unneoessury to point out tbe advantages that 
tbe Ceylon planters have gained by uaited action, and 
there is no reason why the planters of Sonthero India 
should not obtain similar oetefils, or sudIi as are 
suited to the different requirements of these districts, 
if they will unite into one oentral body which shall be 
the mynth-piecB of tbe whole oommuniiy. There can 
be no doubt but that the excellently organised inalilu-- 
tions of Ceylon helped very considerably in ena- 
bling the planters in that euloiiy to recover from 
the prostration caused by tbe oomparative failure of, 
the coffee plantations, aud to build up so quickly 
tbe successful tea industry to an extent that is tho 
admiration of neighbouring countriss. 
AVitb a well-couceived aud establisbed Oentral Asso- 
ciation, formed by the planters of Boutbern India, 
officered by picked and experienced men from tbe 
different districts, and kept posted up by the branc, 
Aesociatious with every necessary detail of informa- 
tion. (he gain to every planter wonld, in our opinion, 
be directly or indirootly enoimcus ; for whilst, theio 
are tliou.sands of acres, that are available for planting, 
lemaiuiug undeveloped, owing to tbe dread unefr- 
taiuty of a sulUeienl lat oar supply ; whilst the courts 
of law in almost every di.striot require cousidurable 
expansion and improvement; whilst the construction 
of neceisary roada and bridges is delayed; and 
whilst railways are oa yet in tbe womb of tlie future 
no fresh capital will bo attracted to the country and 
its development is retarded. As regards rail com- 
innnicatiou we understand that a survey of an exten- 
sion of tho Southern Muhratta line from Nanjaii- 
gode in Mysore to Gudsloie in 8. B. WynsaJ has 
been sanctioned, if it has notalrcady been oommeuouit. 
aud a farther citeusiou thence (lirougli the AV'^ynoad 
to tho AVestern Coast can be only a question of time. 
Other extensions from tlio eiistiug lines to Coorg 
aud the Mysore coffee distriota are also talked about. 
Those and other projects wonld be hastened if the 
countries were ,mora settled and developed, and, to 
make such settioinents possible, planters most combine 
to urge on Government tbe improvement and tbe 
perleotiiig of tbe labour laws. Immigration from tho 
congested, and, at times, famine-strioken districts of 
Southern India, would benefit the coolies, tlie p’anlcis 
and Government, and whilst the latter give every 
enoouragemoat in their power to the imigratinn of 
these coolies to Ceylon, Mauiitins and other places, 
they ought surely to bo equally ready to eiiaot ouch 
laws as won[d enable the planters of Sontherii India 
to ko' p such of the labciip as they require, at home, 
and thus develop the country they possess and increase 
its prosperity and revenui s. AVe hope to return to 
this sub;eot on another occn-ioii, aud shall be glad 
if its ventilation in our columua should lead even- 
tually to the lurtherance of the iinpurtant interesLs 
of the Ttautiug community, — Madrus Times. 
« 
NOTES ON PRODUCE AND FINANCE. 
Coffee Oosifaniei axd Tea Odi.tivation. — From 
tho reports isnued hy two coffee oomjrauies, the Onvah 
aud the Spring Valley, it will bo seen that the 
cultivation nf tea is a prominent feature in the ope 
ration of these concerns, whose titles might be altered 
with advantage now that they are tea as well as 
coffee companies. 
