CHAPTER XXVIII.

COST OF MANUFACTURE, PACKING, TRANSPORT, ETC.

These are as follow:--They will vary more or less according to the district, rate of wages, &c., but in the form the tables are given, if not suitable to any case, they can easily be made so.

I have added sorting, packing, freight to Calcutta, and broker’s charges in Calcutta, to the cost, so that all is included from the moment the green leaf is picked off the trees till the hammer falls at the public auction.

_Table cost of Manufacture, Sorting, Packing, Transport to Calcutta, and Broker’s Charges for each maund of Tea._

_Manufacture._ RS. AS. P. RS. AS. P.

1 head man with the pickers, say 0 4 0

320 lbs. green leaf picked, at 1 pice per lb.[61] 5 0 0

1 man withering above leaf, at say 4 annas 0 4 0

1/4 share head man in rolling house 0 2 0

10-2/3 men rolling above, at 30 lbs. leaf per man, and say 4 annas per man 2 10 8

1/4 boy clearing out ashes of Dhole house, at say 2 annas 0 0 6

1/4 share head man in Dhole house 0 2 0

1 man firing “Dhole work” say 0 4 0

3/4 maund charcoal for Dhole work, at 8 annas 0 6 0

Lights for night work, viz., turning green leaf and dholing, say 0 4 0

Wear and tear of dhallas, baskets, picking baskets, fuel for artificial withering, &c. 0 1 10 ---------- 9 7 0

_Sifting and Sorting._

1-1/2 boys to pick out red leaf, at say 2 annas 0 3 0

1 sifting man, at say 4 annas 0 4 0

Wear and tear of sieves, say 0 0 3 ---------- 0 7 3

_Packing._

1 box 1 13 0

4 sheets lead, viz., 2 large and 2 small. 1 6 6

Labour of lining box with lead, solder, closing lead, closing wooden box, stamping, and cost of nails 0 0 9

Labour of drying previous to packing, whether in sun, or over dholes, including charcoal, if the latter are used 0 0 9

Labour of filling the box, shaking it well, and pressing down the Tea (2 men) 0 0 6 ---------- 3 5 6

_Transport._

Freight to Calcutta for one maund Tea, say 1 12 0 ---------- 1 12 0

_Broker’s Charges in Calcutta._

Landing, lotting, and advertising per chest 0 14 0

Brokerage at 1 per cent. on the amount sale, say Rs. 70 for the maund 0 11 3 ---------- 1 9 3 ----------- Total for one maund of Tea[62] 16 9 0 -----------

N.B.--If more than two maunds Tea are made per day, some of the items under head of “Manufacture” would be a little less. See page 70, where it will be seen that each maund of Tea is worth to the manufacturer (after deducting all costs) Rs. 50.

FOOTNOTES:

[61] In practice the basket in which the leaf is measured being made to hold 2-1/2 lbs., for which a ticket is given, representing 2 pice, the leaf to make a maund of Tea does not really cost so much.

[62] After experience has shown me this amount, when any quantity of Tea is made, is too high--Rs. 12 to 13 would be nearer the mark.