Editor's Call for Local Interests to Bestir Themselves Before Too Late As has already been mentioned in these columns, the editor of the "Tea and Coffee Trade Journal" New York, Mr. William H, Ukers, is at present in Shanghai, his mission being a world survey of tea conditions with a view to increas-
Ing tea consumption in America, Mr. Ukers is of the opinion that China merchants, both Chinese and foreign, must bestir themselves. to save their markets in England and America before it is too late, the course of an interview at the Astor House Hotel Mr. Ukers "A study of the statistical facts in the ease shows that Ching total tea exports have fallen off 36 per cent. in the last decade, Her' exports to the United States alone are off 30. per cent, Twenty-five years ago China was exporting tens Which trade experts considered unequalled in delicacy, flavour and bouquet by any teas produced el where in the world. Tonday the machine-made teas of India, Ceylon and Java are rapidly supplanting China teas in the world's markets, The reason is that they are being better made ter advertised, China merchants macle the mistake of cheapening their product in order to compete with the Indin and Cey-Jon teas in price.
"Yet a ce' -iderable percentage of English ans Avserican tea drinkers fare still perca! to China teas, but they are largely of the older genera: tion. The younger generation hears only of Indias and Ceylon and auld vertising is making them the most sought after teas in the world, India's Advance "Toutay, China, which once supplied America with practically ell her tea needs, supplies only 18 per cent. of them. Ceylon supplies 24 per cent., India 14 per cent., Java '9 per cent., Japan 21 per cent., and Formosa 12 per cent. Japan. ix also losing out to India and Ceylon, Her share in the American market indied from 46 per cent. to what it ix to-day—tess than half.
"In 1928-24 China shared in the general tea boom, particularly in her, [tack ten exports; hut When Clube ness is good the provision for a possible rainy'
Mr. Ukers believes America is the greatest potential ten market in the world. Among tea countries India alone has so far taken advantage the situation created by prohibition to advertise tea as a logical substitute for alcohol. India is now spending $1,000,000 (gold) to a vertise Indian teas in the United States. The coffee men are just rounding out a five years' advertise ing campaign for coffee in which over a million dollars has been spent for publicity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.