Ai'RiK 1. 1914. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



385 



of this lower range of prices is to be found in payment of lower 

 salaries, Japanese specialization and the cheaper living ex- 

 penses. Japanese expenses per acre are said to be only one- 

 third to one-fourth of the expenditure per acre of European 

 and American plantation holders. The hire of Indian or Ma- 

 layan plantation directors is less expensive than that of Euro- 

 peans or Americans, who, moreover, are usually not inclined to 

 take the part of the i)lantation owners; while the similarity of 

 race, language and customs tends to co-operation with the 

 Japanese planters on the part of the Malayan directors. The 

 Japanese planters are, however, at a disadvantage through hav- 

 ing to pay 10 per cent, for their capital, while Europeans and 

 .\mericans only pay as a rule 4 per cent, interest. 



J.M'.WESE INSULATED ELECTRIC VVIUE CO.Mf.NNIES. 



The general financial depression had reached the commercial 

 and industrial world of Japan in 1913, when the situation of the 

 electrical imUistry reduced the demand for electric wires and 

 cables. I'nder these circumstances there has been a keen com- 

 petition for business, due to the inability of the manufacturing 

 companies to suddenly restrict their production. These condi- 

 tions resulted in a low scale of prices, disadvantageous for the 

 makers of electric wires and cables. 



The balance sheets of the leading companies shuw the results 

 of their operations. The Yokohama Electric Wire Manufactur- 

 ing Co., Limited, with a capital of $1,942,769, has made 

 a profit of $99,643, or about 5 per cent. A dividend of 10 per 

 cent, per annum was paid. Among the items of the balance 

 sheet are: Stocks — raw material, $140,813; half manufactured 

 goods, $101,338; manufactures, $91,186. 



The Fujikura Electric Wire Co., Limited, paid 10 per cent, 

 and carried down stocks: Raw- materials, $137,329; half manu- 

 factured goods. $63,209; manufactures, $59,988. 



The .Xippon Electric Wire & Cable Co. paid 8 per cent, 

 and brought down stocks: Raw materials, $34,256; half manu- 

 factured goods, $18,072; manufactures, $43,735. Such arc the 

 principal items of the three balance sheets in question. 



.\t .in extraordinary general meeting of the Way-Halim 

 (Sumatra) Rubber and Coffee Estates, Limited, convened for the 

 purpose of considering a scheme of reconstruction, resolutions 

 w-ere carried for the voluntary winding up of tlie company and 

 the appointment of liquidators. 



THE BATAVIA INTERNATIONAI. BUBBER C0MGRE8S. 



According to the preliminary program of the above congress, 

 to be held from September 7 to 12, the papers to be read, in 

 conjunction with the subsequent discussions, will prove of marked 

 benefit to the cause of rubber technology. They will deal with 

 "Science and Tropical Cultivation," "Planting Distances and 

 Thinning Out," "Progress of Investigation as to the Cultivation 

 of Tropical Plants — Particularly Rubber," "Diseases and Pests 

 of Ilevca," "Tapping and Tapping Systems," "The Preparation 

 of Rubber," "How to Realize a Reduction of Cost Price of 

 Rubber," "Methods of Testing Raw Rubber," and other subjects. 

 A number of the most prominent rubber experts from the 

 Malay States will attend the congress and will discuss with 

 their Dutch and Dutch- Indian colleagues problems of mutual 

 interest. 



BATAVIA AS A MARKET FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. 



According to a report from the German Imperial Consulate 

 General at Batavia, the imports at that point have included 

 the following : 



1910 



Bicycles 2,440 



Automobiles 128 



Similar conditions are said to prevail 



1911 1912 



3.190 5,185 



162 270 



at Semarang and 



Sourabaya, the two other leading ports in Java. 



THE DELI TESTING STATION AT MEDAN. SUMATRA. 



This testing station was established in 1893 by the Deli 

 Planters' .-Xssociation, and remained till 1903 under the direc- 

 tion of Dr. van Breda de Haan. In 1906 an association was 

 formed with the intention of building a new and more ex- 

 tensive station, with a yearly subscription list amounting to 

 $20,000 during seven years. In June, 1912, it w-as decided to 

 erect the present building, shown in the accompanying illus- 

 tration, the annual subscription list being increased to the 

 equivalent of $60,000. The present director. Dr. de Bussy, 

 assumed office on January 1, 1913. 



On entering the building the vestibule leads on one side to 

 the directors' laboratory, and on the other to the ad- 

 ministrative offices. .Abundant space has been allowed in all 

 parts of the building. In the upper portion of the front there 

 is a large room intended for use as a lecture hall and like- 

 wise as a museum. 



\ 



II il II ' '11 II 



The Deli Testing St.^tion at Med.\n, Sumatr.\. 



