258 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[April i, 1909. 



The Rubber Trade in the Dominion. 



CANADIAN CONSOLIDATED RUBBER— ANNUAL. 



AT the annual mcL-ting of shareholders of the Canadian Con- 

 solidated Rubber Co., Limited, at Montreal, on February 

 26, with Mr. D. Lome McGibbon, president of the com- 

 pany, in the chair, the directors presented a very favorable re- 

 port. Commenting upon the report, President McGibbon stated 

 that while the year's trading had been in smaller volume than in 

 some previous years, it had been above the $5,000,000 mark. The 

 company now had ample working capital, and its affairs were in 

 good shape. He could announce that the payment of dividends on 

 the common stock at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum would 

 begin on April i, the first disbursement amounting to $28,000. 

 The report of the directors said, in part : 



"The promise of a successful year, which your directors felt 

 justified in predicting at your last annual meeting, has been fullv 

 realized, and the statements about to be presented to you show 

 that the condition of the company is, in all respects, an excellent 

 one. 



"The company has acquired, during the past year, twenty-two 

 shares of the Canadian Rubber Co. of Montreal, Limited, making 

 19,118 shares out of a total of 20,000; but, apart from that, the 

 assets and liabilities remain practically unchanged. 



"The company's income, derived from dividends and from 

 other sources, amounted to $356,74977, which, after providing 

 for the payment of the interest of the bonds of $150,738, preferred 

 dividends of $136,131.50 and general expenses of $36,493.98, leaves 

 a balance of $33,386.29 to the credit of profit and loss to be car- 

 ried forward to next year. 



"The volume of rubber business, in common with practically all 

 other lines of commerce, showed a decrease for the year 1908, 

 which was, however, partially offset by a reduction in the price 

 of crude rubber. By judicious purchasing your directors were 

 enabled to take advantage of this condition, and this, coupled with 

 a policy of rigid economy in the manufacturing, selling and ad- 

 ministrative divisions of the consolidated and subsidiary com- 

 panies, has resulted in bringing their total net profits up to $806,- 

 675.66, from which the sum of $286,869.50 has been paid out in 

 bond interest and dividends, leaving a balance of $519,806.16, 

 which is left in the treasuries of the various companies." 



Mr. McGibbon's statement that his health had been restored 

 after six months' leave of absence, and that he would be able 

 now to devote his whole time to the business of the company, 

 was received with much satisfaction. 



The election of directors resulted in the choice of Messrs. D. 

 Lome McGibbon, G. VV. Stephens, J. H. McKechnie, James Rob- 

 inson, Alexander Pringle, C. C. Ballantyne, 'V. E. Mitchell, D. 

 Coulson, E. W. Nesbitt, W. R. Allan, and Shirley Ogilvie. The 

 election of officers resulted : 



President and Mava^ing Director — P. Lorne MdOiBBOH. 

 Vice President — Major Georoe W. Stephens, 

 Second Vice President — J. H. McKechnie. 

 Chairtnan Execntive Committee — James Robinson. 

 Secretary-Treasurer — Walter Bin more. 



The quarterly dividend of 1% per cent, on the preferred shares 

 of the company was payable April i. 



THE NEW RTTBEER SHOE LISTS. * 



Beginning with March i the rubber footwear manufacturers 

 of the Dominion have abolished gross lists and the system of 

 discounts in quoting to jobbers, as was intimated would be the 

 case in The India Rubber World, February i, 1909 (page 182). 

 One of the leading manufacturing concerns writes : 



"The principal reason why the rubber shoe manufacturers of 

 Canada adopted 'net prices' in selling their goods was that the 

 retailer got the notion into his head that they must sell at the 



catalogue list prices. Therefore, when the discounts shortened 

 up to say 20 per cent, off they blamed the manufacturer for not 

 allowing them a larger profit. The manufacturers never had any 

 idea of fixing the selling price to the consumer when making 

 their catalogue price. You remember, when the discount to thi 

 retailer was 30 and 5, 30 and 10, etc., which was very satisfactory 

 to the retailer, that he could show the list and explain to his cus- 

 tomer what a bargain he was giving in selling him below the list 

 price. The net prices have met with the approval of the whole 

 trade, jobbers and retailers. We will do this season as the 

 United States Rubber Co. have been doing recently — issue our 

 catalogues without any list price, enclosing a little booklet with 

 the net prices. The United States Rubber Co. use with their 

 catalogue two booklets, one with a net list and one a gross list, 

 but we have decided to break away from the gross list alto- 

 gether." 



A retailer in Toronto writes : "In my opinion the change from 

 list and discount to net prices will be beneficial to the trade in 

 general. My reasons are : Many complain as to the difficulty in 

 rapidly figuring the cost in the discount system. Again, mis- 

 takes are apt to occur, and have occurred on the part of those 

 not so familiar with mathematical calculations as others. Besides, 

 as the rubber business is part of the shoe business, and now that 

 all or nearly all shoes are sold upon a net basis, I think rubbers 

 should be also." 



BRIEF MENTION. 



The annual meeting of the Wholesale Rubber Boot and Shoe 

 Association of Canada, at Montreal, on January 20, was marked 

 by the largest attendance in its history. After a full discussion 

 the sentiment of the association was found to be in favor of the 

 selling of rubber footwear at net prices. Thus is removed any 

 suggestion that the wholesale houses fix the price for the con- 

 sumer, and the retailer is free to fix his own selling prices ac- 

 cording to local conditions. Philip Pocock, of London, Ontario, 

 was elected president, succeeding Clarence F. Smith. Joseph 

 Daoust, of Montreal, and N. L. Martin, No. 64 Wellington street, 

 Toronto, were re-elected treasurer and secretary, respectively. 



Mr. Walter Binmore, recently elected secretary-treasurer of 

 the Canadian Consolidated Rubber Co., Limited, has held for a 

 number of years the office of general manager of the Maple Leaf 

 Rubber Co., at Port Dalhousie, Ontario. On leaving his former 

 post Mr. Binmore was tendered a banquet by the members of 

 the office and the warehouse staffs. 



Mr. Alexander Macpherson, long connected with The Gutta 

 Percha and India Rubber Manufacturing Co. of Toronto, Limit- 

 ed, is now president of The Hough Lithographing Co., Limited, 

 of Toronto. 



INDIA-RUBBER AND THE SAILOR. 



THE sailor taking a fine new rubber band from the stationery 

 display began to chew it with vigorous enjoyment. 



"What are you up to there?" snarled the druggist. 



"Just chewing rubber," said the sailor. "It's a habit with all 

 us navy fellers. Keeps off gun headache. Of course, you, a land 

 lubber, don't know nothin' 'bout it, but let me tell you, mate, 

 when a sixteen inch gun goes oflt, aboard ship, the jar shatters 

 winders, splits planks, and brings your lower teeth up against 

 your uppers like a straight left from old John L. The result is a 

 gun headache; such a headache! But if you chew a rubber in 

 firing time it eases oflf the shock and you don't suffer none. I 

 been chewin' it steady ever since Manila bay. 



"Rubber chewing is the salvation often." f. j. k. 



