TEA-GROWING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18460, 25 July 1923, Page 11

TEA-GROWING INDUSTRY.

QUEENSLAND PROPOSAL. \ ASSAM PLANTER'S SCHEME. -..;"V [FROM OUR OWN 1 CORRESPONDENT.] ■.-;■,: . ■ • ' • - . SYDNEY. July 18. ; Encouraged by the;successful "cultivation of cotton ( . considerable quantities . of which have; been produced equal; to ;the best grown elsewhere", some Queenslanders are making investigations j.l regarding , the possibilities of growing tea. Speculation and inquiries in this direction .have been given a practical turn by the visit to the State, of ; Mr. C.'. H. : Witherington, ; a prominent tea planter of Assam,, 'He has discussed x the %i possibilities, with , the Premier, who has promised to, assist if it is ;;proved that ; the industry ':■■ would ; have good prospect of success.' ■' " - -,' ~ Mr. Witherington is now making investigations !; in \ the likely : areas, 'after which he .'will .go into - the matter with the Minister „ for Agriculture. The proposal is not ■to - cultivate tea on an ex;, tepsivV area, but; rather.;that farmers in the warm,; moist districts of the North should cultivate small areas i which, can be worked without the aid of ■ hired labonr, According to . the latest message . from Ceylon, he appears to have chosen a dtomoment,- because,. owing to labour troubles, in , India and ; Ceylon, there appears to .be -some -danger of restricted supplies. ; • Some "of this Cevlon contracts for the coming crop.have been made on the basis of Is lOjd per lb He says that speaking ;at". Calcutta in March.'; Mr.' T. C. Crawford (chairman of the Indian Tea Association) statedHhat the general short- : age ,of labour . throughout the, tea _ districts ' was causing grave concern. , The position of many •; estates. had .. been'";' so serious that;they had ; had to abandon tea,;' and the prospects of. getting in labour in appreciable numbers this';"■. year X. were almost hopeless. ■