OUR TEA AND IT’S PRICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2648, 2 November 1909, Page 3

OUR TEA AND IT’S PRICE.

A RISE PROBABLE

Mr. H. Nelson, of the firm of .Nelson Moate, and Co.,' who returned from a visit to Ceylon by the Moeraki last week, had some interesting remarks to make on tea, and tea prices to a ‘‘Dominion” representative. . “The trade,” said Mr. Nelson, “is in a very unsettled state, owing chiefly to a shortness of supplies in India and Ceylon, and a largely increased consumption in England, America, and the Continent. Indian tea brings 25 per cent more'to-day than it did at this time last year, and it is higher in London than it has been for many years. Another thing affecting the position is that rubber-growing is now 'extremely profitable, and many erstwhile large tea-growers are going in for rubber cultivation instead of tea. Growers can land rubber in London at about Is lOd per lb., and they actually receive between Ss Sd and 9s 3d per lb. for it. So you cannot wonder at the change in their activities.” Are there no difficulties in the way of converting the estates? asked the reporter. - “Oh, no,” replied Mr. Nelson. “The 'rubber caff"grow alongside the tea, and an acre can hold 150 rubber trees. The trees are non-productive for the first year or two, but, in the course of the third year, the grower can got a pound of rubber per tree, in the fifth year.-three pounds, and so on. Indirectly also the rubber industry leaves its mark on the tea trade, as the rubber trees sap the strength out of the ground. Its cultivation, however, pays so well that tea is neglected. 'The tea trade throughout the world, go- far as growers are concerned, was never more prosperous, but never more disastrous for importers and dealers. _ln England it is so serious that large firms are spending a great deal of money in trying to convert the people into buying higher-priced teas, and their shop windows arc being filled with teas marked at between 3s and 3s 6d per lb. “In New Zealand,” he -continued, “'the public have been getting a.better article than anywhere else. In fact, the latest -statistics -show 'that' New Zealand heads the list for importing teas. England comes second, Victoria third, and New Srtiith Wales fourth.” Most likely there are other contributing causes to the'unsettled state of the trade? - - ‘ “Yes; for one thing the German Army is to use tea. instead of laager beer and coffee. This order was only given -six or eight months ago, and its effect has not been felt yet. This item alone will make a big difference. The area under cultivation would naturally increase under normal circumstances, but labor trembles have occurred, and +hat difficulty is especially acute in Ceylon. There are many acres under cultivation, but coolie labor is getting very scarce. They imagine that they arc illtreated and are dissatisfied. One difficulty is that their employers cannot speak Tamil (their language).” So we shall have to pay higher prices soon? • 7

“If the market remains as it is tlic public will undoubtedly have to pay more’ for their tea—that is, tea fit to drink. A set of conditions is also being created favorable to the- importation of a commoner kind of tea that has been known here before. It is probable that prices will increase "finite twopence per lb., unless a change takes places, and it only needs America and Germany to buy 20 per cent, more tea for prices here to go' up by 6d. or Bd. per lb.. For about ten years many large estates were a financial failure, as the importers were getting tea for lass than cost, but now: the owners are having their day. V “Tim "output of tea from Java is increasing, hut its quality is not •so high. I met the Javan Government expert, and he assured me that the output in Java was, per acre, twice that of Ceylon. During the last few years the quality of tea has been deteriorating very much as many estates have not sufficient • machinery to* cope with the crops, and it is rushed through without being properly prepared. The increased demand, too, tempts the grower to pick four leaves instead of the normal three, which is, of course, to the detriment of the product.”