That we ought to move, and move quickly, is very certain. How best to act requires serious consideration, and ample discussion.
You advocate a company or association to sell our Teas retail in all the large towns in Great Britain, and advocate a subscription of Rs. 10 per month by each garden in India, until the business could support itself. Nothing can be done unless we all subscribe a small sum to set it going, and the amount you mention (Rs. 120 for one year; the necessity would most assuredly last no longer) should frighten no one, while, if done generally by the Indian gardens, it would be ample. I would suggest, therefore, that we should begin the matter as set out below.
The following none of the very many interested in Tea can deny:—
1. The large profits made on Indian Teas at home are not realised by the producers, but by the retail dealers.
2. We can easily undersell the said retail dealers, to the tune of 50 per cent. or more, and still work at a large profit.
3. If the retail dealers were so undersold, an enormous custom would ensue to us, or rather the agents we employed.
4. If Indian Teas were procurable at a fair price all over Great Britain, because Indian Tea is superior to China, because those who have drunk Indian never revert to China, because thousands would then taste our Teas for the first time, and continue their use—I say, because of all this, little by little, the consumption would increase in a ratio we do not dream of now.
5. The consumption so increased, we should necessarily, because demand exceeded supply, get good prices at the public marts in Calcutta and London, and in consequence thereof the value of all Tea property in India would be greatly enhanced.
I believe all the above would certainly follow on a general well-combined movement on our part; but let us take the worst view. No one can deny that they might do so. Would Rs. 120 be a large stake from each garden for even the chance? Let us begin thus: Open a list in your office for the names of those gardens willing to join. One year’s subscription, at Rs. 10 per month, should be the limit from each garden. When enough names are collected to warrant further movement, call a meeting in Calcutta, and let the next steps be decided on, and in the interval—agitate; I will help to the best of my power, and collect opinions from all sides.