30 APRIL 1904, Page 29

is little wonder that the tea-planters of India and Ceylon

are reported as viewing the increase of the Tea-duty with astonishment and bitterness. Here is a British industry that has for years been labouring under serious depression, yet is now singled out to bear an added burden. The price of tea being already raised by taxation to twice its market value, to lay a further artificial restriction on its consumption appears to me an act of gratuitous oppression as towards the producer, unless it can be shown, which has not been attempted, that his profits are unduly swollen. The proposal appears in an even worse light when it is pointed out that when an additional 2d. per pound was added in a recent war Budget it was done with every assprance that this was an abnormal and temporary increase, solely required to meet the then emergency. On the faith of this assurance planters have held on and have invested some new capital in the pro- Exeter. RAYMOND WALKER.

THE OVER-REPRESENTATION OF HOME-RULE.

[To THE Eurrou or THE "SrscrarogJ]

The majority of the Jews in Limerick are now absolutely dependent on the kindness of the Protestants. My letter to the Times and the Unionist Press in Ireland on last Good Friday has brought me a number of subscriptions from Christian friends to help the boycotted and persecuted people. The Advisory Connell of the Irish Mission to the Jews, which represents all the Protestant denominations in Ireland, and of which Mr. Thomas Pakenham Law, K.C., is the president, sees that the funds are judiciously distributed.

I ain returning to Limerick to investigate personally all farther cases.

—I am, Sir, &a, L JULIAN GRANDE, Director of the Irish Mission to the Jews, 43 Upper Sackville Street, Dublin.