270 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[February 1, 1914. 



NETHERLANDS INDIES RUBBER GROWERS' ASSO- 

 CIATION. 



AT a meeting recently held at the Hague, under the presidency 

 of Mr. .A. G. N. Swart, it was decided to establish an "In- 

 ternational -Association for the Cultivation of Rubber in the 

 Netherlands East Indies." 



The following members represent the various countries on the 

 Council : 



Great Britain — Arthur Lampard, Herbert Wright, W. Norfolk 

 Noel Bingley ; Belgium— E. Bunge, F. Osterrieth, A. Hallet 

 France— Jacques Bernard, Charles Engeringh; Germany — C. A 

 Erhardt ; Holland— J. F. de Beaufort, Dr. A. H. Berthout, P. J. J 

 Jonas Van's Heer Arendskerke, Professor G. Van Iterson, F 

 Koch. Jr.. Jacob Musly, .Abraham Miiller, Professor F. Van Rom- 

 burgh, M. Sanders, J. A. Ruys and J. Van Vollcnhoven. 



The Rubber Growers' Association of London will add four 

 members as soon as the articles of association arc definitely 

 agreed upon. 



In his opening address Mr. Swart dwelt on the advantages to 



A. G. X, Swart. 



be anticipated from the co-operation of the various groups en- 

 gaged in rubber growing in the Dutch Indies. On account of the 

 enormous amount of foreign capital invested, the cultivation of 

 rubber is an international undertaking. The total capital now 

 invested in this cultivation in the Dutch Indies equals about 

 $100,000,000, distributed approximately as follows : 



English $58,000,000 



Dutch 17,000.000 



Franco-Belgian 16,000.000 



American 7.000.000 



German 2,000.000 



Total $100,000,000 



Mr. Swart likewise emphasized the fact that the rubber plan- 

 tation industry was about to enter a period when it would have to 

 fight with all its strength against that of collecting wild rubber. 

 The proposed association, he added, would have a vast field of 

 activity in which it could serve both the rubber trade in general 

 and its members in particular. He likewise referred to the ques- 

 tion of a demarcation of the rights and duties of free laborers, and 

 to the importance of legislative protection for the members of the 

 association from the appropriation by the natives of the har- 

 lested products of the plantations. 



Other points claiming the attention of the association were the 

 cost of production and transport of prepared rubber, as well as 

 the reorganization of the present system of the public sale of plan- 

 tation rubber. In the speaker's opinion, however, the most 

 interesting task before the association would be the search for 

 new outlets, to absorb the increased supplies of rubber coming 

 forward. The solution of this problem would, he added, decide 

 the future of the rubber industry. 



While the other planters' associations existing in Europe had 

 exercised beneficent influence upon the cultivation of rubber in 

 the Dutch colonies, they had likewise other interests at heart, not 

 always consonant with those of the planters of the Netherlands 

 East Indies. This fact had led to the establishment of the new 

 association. 



INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE. 



The French International Association for Colonial and 

 Tropical Agronomy, in connection with its British Section, 

 has organized an international conference, to be held next 

 June at the Imperial Institute, London. 



Papers will be submitted on such subjects as: "Technical 

 Education and Research in Tropical Agriculture," "Scientific 

 Problems of Rubber Production" and ".Agricultural Credit 

 Banks." 



While arrangements are so far necessarily incomplete, it 

 is anticipated that the conference will prove a most impor- 

 tant event, so far as the tropics are concerned. West Africa 

 will be represented, official representatives having already 

 been appointed for Northern and Southern Nigeria, Sierra 

 Leone and the Gold Coast. Owing to the London exhibition 

 taking place during the month of June, the attendance of a 

 large number of rubber experts is looked for at this interna- 

 tional conference. 



WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH RUBBER? 



I see no occasion to blubber. 



Whatever the croakers may say; 

 But what is the matter with Rubber? 



Is all I am asking today. 



I've questioned first one and then t'other, 



But nobody seems to explain: 

 They look and saj', "Ask me another." 



Or something as vague and inane. 



I want to be clearly instructed 



In matters just wherefore and why; 

 To know how the thing is conducted 

 By those who control and supply. 



I want to be really enlightened; 



The darkness is hateful to me; 

 It's not that I'm anywise frightened — 



Oh, no! it were foolish to be. 



But what is the matter with Rubber? 



It used to be ever so strong; 

 And now, says the keen money-grubber. 



It's hardly the price of a song. 



There must be a reason for all things. 



Whenever those things go amiss; 

 I've dabbled in great and in small things, 



But ne'er met a puzzle like this. 



I see no occasion to blubber 



Whatever the croakers may say; 

 But what is the matter with Rubber? 



Is all I am asking today. 

 — Fred. Wallis, in the London "Financial Times.' 



VALLAMBROSA RUBBER CO., LTD. 



Reports for the eight months ending November 30, 1913. 

 show yields on the Vallambrosa Estate of 300,000 pounds, 

 and on the Bukit Kraiong Estate of 76,200 pounds. The 

 outputs for the corresponding period of 1912 were, respec- 

 tively, 284.100 and 47.100 pounds. 



