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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[April 1, 1913. 



Prizes for the establishment of rubber refining plants and 

 rubber goods factories. 

 Holding of triennial expositions. 

 Reduction in export duties on rubber. 



EXEMPTIONS FROM IMPORT DUTIES OF M.'\TERIALS AND AP- 

 PLIANCES FOR RUBBER CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE. 



By the earlier decree free admission was granted to all uten- 

 sils and materials for the culture of Ilevea, Caucho, Maiii(oba 

 and Maiigahcira trees, as well as for the collection and prepara- 

 tion of rubber extracted from them. The later decree restricts 

 \ this free admission to a long list of articles, and inchidcs regula- 

 tions as to the certificates required of the status of the applicants 

 for such free entry. 



In the April decree the provisions of free entry arc amplified 

 as follows : "Materials and machinery which shall be discovered 

 or invented during the lime tliis regulation is in force, which 

 have special application to the rubber industry, shall enjoy the 

 same exemption from import duties." 



The materials specified for free entry are classified into 4 

 groups ; the fourth one being subdivided into 8 sections. The 

 entire list includes about 400 articles. Its divisions are : 



Group 1 — Implements and Utensils for the Rubbei Gatherer. 



Group 2 — Implements and materials for Cultivation. 



Group 3 — Materials and Utensils intended for the culture of 

 trees and treatment of rubber, including building materials. 



Group 4 — Chemical substances: 1, Coagulants; 2, Dissolvents; 

 3, Deodorizers and Disinfectants; 4, Coloring materials; 5, Hy- 

 drocarburets. heavy bodies and oils; 6, Resin, resinous gums and 

 lacs; 7, Vulcanizing agents; 8, Fibers and Cloth; 9, Insulating 

 materials, and 10, divers materials. 



PREMIUMS FOR PLANTING AND REPLANTING. 



The scale of premiums to be granted for the planting or re- 

 planting of (1) Hevea, (2) Caucho or Manitoba, and (3) Man- 

 gabeini, was given in detail in The Indi.\ Rubber World of 

 June 1, 1912, page 427. For the three broad divisions as indi- 

 cated, new plantations in groups of 12 hectares (about 30 acres) 

 were to receive awards respectively of: (1) 2,500 milreis ($833) ; 

 (2) 1.500 milreis ($500) and (3) 900 milreis ($300). Replant- 

 ing for groups of 25 hectares (about 62^^ acres), would entitle 

 the planters respectively to 2.000, 1,000 and 720 milreis ($667. 

 $333 and $240). Under certain circumstances the premiums for 

 Hcvea rubber may be increased five per cent. 



Planters have to submit to the Minister of Agriculture plans 

 of the property it is proposed to cultivate; with details of the 

 nature of the soil and the production for the previous three 

 years, where the property is already under development. The 

 smallest number of trees for new cultures will be 250 per hectare 

 (100 per acre) for Hevea and Caucho, and 400 per hectare 

 (160 per acre) for Manitoba and Mangabeira. In replanting, 

 the distance between the trees should, when possible, be for the 

 former group 20 to 21 feet and for the latter 16^ feet. The 

 premiums will be paid during the year preceding the first crop 

 of rubber, but none will be paid where the trees have been 

 inefficiently treated. 



ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL ST.\TIONS. 



The government will establish experimental stations for the study 

 of all the factors in the culture of the rubber produced in the re- 

 spective regions. For Hevea these stations will be at convenient 

 points in the Territory of Acre and the States of Matto Grosso, 

 Amazonas, Para, Maranhao, Piauhy and Bahia ; while those for 

 Manifoba jointly with Mangabeira will be in the States of 

 Piauhy, Ceara, Pernambuco, Bahia, Minas Geraes, Sao Paulo, 

 Goyaz, Parana and Matto Grosso. Planters will be furnished 

 with precise data as to methods and processes for rubber pro- 

 duction. The total area of each station will be from 80 to 100 

 hectares (200 to 2.S0 acres) ; while each each one will include 



laboratories and museums. Annual luillctins will be issued of 

 the work accomplished. 



The position of director is to be helil by a specialist in any one 

 of the technical sections, while the technical positions may be 

 filled by native or foreign professors of recognized ability. 



WASHING AND REFINING OF RUBBER. 



While it is hoped by means of the various facilities accorded 

 in respect to rubber cultivation to place Brazilian rubber in a 

 better position to compete in the world's markets, the proposals 

 likewise include provisions for encouraging the washing and re- 

 fining of crude rubber and for the manufacture of rubber goods. 

 Although both subjects are treated in article 4 of the Act of 

 January 5, 1912. and in article 23 of the decree of April 17, 1912, 

 it will probably be simpler to consider them separately. 



The premiums offered in respect to rubber refining are : 



(1) 400,000 milreis ($133,000) to the first plant established 

 in each of the cities of Belem (Para) and Manaos, for refining 

 Hc'ca rubber, which reduces the different qualities to a uniforrrl 

 and superior export type. 



(2) 100,000 milreis ($33,000) to the first refining plant for 

 Manitoba and Mangabeira rubber in each of the States of 

 Piauhy. Ceara, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco. Bahia. Minas 

 Geraes and Sao Paulo. 



In order to have a right to the benefits of this article, the 

 factory must have capital actually employed equal to four times 

 the value of the premium. 



Under article 23 of the later decree, there is an exemption 

 from import duties and fees for all materials, machines, utensils 

 and tools necessary for the construction and complete installation 

 of the factory, as well as for all chemical substances, fabrics and 

 various materials, combustibles and lubricants necessary for the 

 operation and maintenance of the factory during a term of 

 25 \-ears. 



Article 24 provides for the formalities of application to the 

 Minister of Agriculture by any one intending to claim these 

 premiums. 



The details asked for as to the proposed manufacture illustrate 

 its prospective scope: "A descriptive memorandum in wliich the 

 capacity of production of the factory is declared, the principal 

 articles intended to be manufactured, the lowest price for which 

 it is proposed to wash and refine rubber, which should be- 

 reduced, for each quality, to one superior type for exportation ; 

 in general giving the government all the information that will 

 help it to form a correct opinion as to the nature and importance 

 of the projected establishment." 



PREMIUMS FOR ^L\NUFACTURE OF RUBBER GOODS. . 



While the general provisions of the two decrees regarding 

 (he washing and refining of rubber equally apply to the manu- 

 facture of rubber goods (included in the same article), there 

 are various points specially referring to the latter. 



A premium up to 500.000 milreis ($166.0(X)) is given to the 

 first factory of rubber articles which shall be established in 

 Manaos, Belem (Para), Recife (Pernambuco). Bahia and Rio- 

 de Janeiro. 



The provision for exemption from import duties on materials 

 and supplies, as shown in the section applying to rubber washing, 

 is evidently also intended to apply to the manufacture of rubber 

 goods. Among provisions apparently referring specially to the 

 latter is the right of appropriating lands required for the de- 

 velopment of the factory, and the following clause defining the- 

 preference to be received from the government in its purchases : 

 ".•\ preference shown by the government in the purchase of the 

 products used in the service of the army and navy, and the 

 federal public departments, which shall be manufactured by the 

 factories, when they can compete in quality with similar foreign 

 articles — the contract for furnishing of same, arranging every 

 three years with each factory, for those of their products which 



