'A further source of anxiety to the China industry is Japanese (including Formosa) competition. Buyers London consider that they get better value for their money from Japanese teas and in consequence, the imports have increased yearly to the detriment of the China trade.
The chief trouble ie caused by the Chinese producers. themselves, who. now make a type of tea that is ferior to that sold a few years. ago. The USA, have of course a desn! standard of quality for all teas ent ing that country. Tu this country there is no such standard, merely. provision that it" must be ft for human consumption. "A large proportion of China ten that enters Eng-and fs interior 3 the Japanese pro-nct and Is dangerously near "the dividing line of what is St for human consumption, In fact, the Interna tional Tea Committee in London take rious view og 1 some recent Chi hot beyond the to that in America The remedy lies largely with China herself. "Her producers. should. got ack to their previous. standard "of quality and provided. that. they will do this, China should be able to com-ete with "Japan on. the London market, 'The actual cost of produetion should be ess than In' either Japan or Formosa as there are, with fow exceptions, no machinery' costs If, over and above this, the Nanking Government could stop the system of "skin" or Tocal taxation imposed by various Provincial authorities and place of this, substitute a reason~ able direct central tax—to be used for the. benefit of the industry—then the whole of China should benefit enormously,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.