TEA AND SILK FARMING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3180, 7 September 1881, Page 3

TEA AND SILK FARMING.

The discussion of this subject in the Scottish papers seems now to have exhausted itself. The chief contributor to the question, a William Cochran, of Dunblane—points out, however, in his last letter, that it has not been a discussion in the air, but has led to some practical results. The enterprise of tea and silk which he advocates for New Zealand in Scotland has, he says, been taken tap by your Government. " All these considerations and others "— with mo3t of them you are already familiar— "I have already submitted to the New Zealand Government, partly direct, but chiefly through the Agent-General in London ; and I have every reason to j believe that the matter will have the attention of the colonial Legislature during the present session." He states the steps he has taken " to conciliate and attach the New Zealand Government " to the scheme. His first letter was sent to the Agent-General, 3rd July, 1879. The scheme he then stated in the following condensed terms: — TOE THE TEA INDUSTEY. I. The necessary supply of one-year-old tea plants and fresh seed from China, Ceylon, Assam, the Neilgherries, and Darjeeling, delivered at the nearest port to the proposed plantations at cost price, or free. 11. Facilities for the importation of labor from China, India, or elsewhere and reasonable legal protection to the planter against the non-fulfilment or evasion of laborers' engagements. 111. A proportion of forest land, to tlie acreage purchased or rented, at a reduced cost or free. IV. The admission by the Customs, without duty, of all material, implements, tools, and machinery necessary in tea cultiration, manufacture and packing for a short term of years. V. Freedom from duty or exise 'impost for all tea grown and prepared in the colony for the first ten years. TOR THE SILK INDUSTRY. VI. The necessary supply (400 plants per acre) of five-year-old white mulberry bushes grafted on black mulberry stocks, or other approved kinds and seed, from Sydney or elsewhere. Also the needful quantities of any other silkworm feeding shrubs —such as the castor oil plant, the terminalia and jujube trees, the ailanthus, &c. —delivered at the nearest port to the proposed plantations at cost price, or free.' VII. Facilities in regard to labor, and freedom from duties a? in the tea industry.

VIII. And such encouragement as would lead to the speedy settlement of skilled reelers from France and Italy, silk throwsters from England, and the purchase in time of all tho elaborate mechanism required in the higher branches of the silk industry.

There is only one other consideration that he has laid before the Government. It is as follows : —One of the earliest results of the successful establishment of tea and silk production would be an immediate influx of the numerous kindred and other trades and professions which elsewhere invariably gather round the centres of the great industries; In order to accomodate these, and to reap some immediate advantage from their advent and the enhancement of the value of the adjoining land, which must certainly occur, it is suggested that a large surrounding expanse should be reserved. On part of this land selected farmers of ability and some means, and labourers and others of good character from Home might be settled, thus providing food for the colony whereever it might be planted, and honest labour for emergencies." How far these are the suggestions of a man who knows what be is talking about will be best recognised in New Zealand. —N.Z. Herald.