456 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



March 1, 1921 



the quality of goods up to pre-war perfection and with success, 

 it is reported. Much harm was done by unscrupulous manufac- 

 turers wlio sold the public underpriced goods made of war sul>- 

 stitutes. This was particularly noticeable in the belting trade. 

 Reputable business men and manufacturers arc anxious about the 

 underselling tliat is rife and as a protection the asbestos and 

 surgical goods branches have organized with a view to fixing 

 minimum prices and qualities. The general opinion is that tlie 

 trade must for the present be content with small profits, while 

 maintaining qualities as far as possible. It is of interest to note 

 that many large firms are again sending out representatives to 

 foreign countries in spite of the great expense involved. There 

 IS, however, general disappointment over the attitude, not only 

 of erstwhile enemies, but also of some neutrals. Among the latter 

 Sweden seems particularly determined to keep out German rub- 

 ber manufactures so long as the low rate of the mark continues. 



In spite of all difficulties, Germans are determined to recapture 

 their former trade and are working energetically to this end. The 

 Gummi-Zcittmg says in an article on the importance of the export 

 trade for German}', "If we take pains to make good deliveries, give 

 people their money's worth and satisfy our customers as we did 

 before the war, then we will find that 'Made in Germany' will not 

 be a hindrance, that rather 'Guaranteed German Make' will follow." 



The German Reichstag has accepted trade agreements with 

 Hungary, Czechoslovakia and .Austria. The agreements made 

 before the war will be annulled and replaced by reciprocal most- 

 favored-nation covenants. 



The local convention regarding tires has been prolonged to 

 September 30, 1921. In October last it had been prolonged to 

 February, 1921. After February, however, individual factories 

 will no longer be bound by fixed prices. The obHgation, from 

 then on, will cover only conditions of sales and guaranties. 



facture, they are admitted under the "British Preferential TaritT" 

 of 10 per cent ad valorem, but goods must show such proof of 

 origin as may be prescribed by the Governor-in-Council from time 

 to time. 



FOREIGN TARIFFS 



SVTEDEN 



.\mong the articles of export from Sweden still subject to 

 license are: Rubber, gutta percha and balata, not manufactured. 

 also reclaimed rubber; rubber thread for the manufacture of 

 elastic fabrics, ribbon and cord ; rubber tires, solid, even if in 

 lengths ; inner tubes and outer covers and parts thereof of rubber, 

 even in combination with other materials, for cycles, motor cycles, 

 and motor cars ; rubber boots and shoes ; rubber waste and scrap. 



GEBMANT 



According to the Board of Trade Jouryuxl, London, December 

 30, 1920, india rubber, gutta percha and balata, raw or purified, 

 and waste, also waste wares of such materials, may be imported 

 into Germany without license. 



FOLANS 



The following articles may be imported into Poland without 

 import permits, as announced in the Polish Journal of Laws, 

 September 13, 1920: rubber, gutta percha and balata, crude, india 

 rubber waste; india rubber, prepared soft and hard (ebonite); 

 tissues impregnated with india rubber for card fillets ; elastic 

 ribbons and tapes, containing india rubber threads, for garters, 

 braces, etc.; manufactures and half-finished articles of soft india 

 rubber, except boots, webs not specially mentioned, clothing, 

 braces, garters, balls and toys. 



HOLLAND 



A Ministerial Decision, dated November 29, 1920, permits free 

 importation into the Netherlands of rubber yarns, consisting of 

 very thin quadrilateral rubber strips used for the manufacture 

 of elastic ribbons. 



BRITISH HONDURAS 



According to the Customs and Excise Duties Ordinance No. 33 

 of 1920, dated October 12, 1920, imports into British Honduras 

 of india rubber and gutta percha manufactures are subject to 

 15 per cent tax ad valorem; if the goods are of British manu- 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN THE FAR EAST 

 By A Special Correspondent 



UALAYA 



SOME MONTHS AGO it was Suggested in certain quarters that the 

 local government should buy up rubber at a certain fixed 

 price in order to save the rubber industry. For a while after 

 nothing was heard of this, but lately people are talking about it 

 again and appear to think that because the Federated Malay States 

 Government has decided to buy tin at a fixed price, it will do 

 the same for rubber. 



.'\s the Malayan Tin & Rubber Journal rightly points out, a 

 poUcy that might be successful with regard to tin, would certainly 

 prove a failure in the case of rubber. Rubber cannot be stored 

 indefinitely without deteriorating and the Government would be- 

 fore long have to sell it to avoid heavy loss. The result of this 

 release of large quantities of rubber would be that prices, which 

 in the meantime may have risen, would experience a heavy drop 

 and conditions would be the same as they are now, if not worse. 



It has been suggested that a loan to planters would be of more 

 real help and the question is raised, why a committee such as has 

 been formed in Ceylon to represent before the Government the 

 interests of planters, could not be appointed in Malaya to act in 

 a similar capacity. 



It is reported that the General Committee of the Singapore 

 Rubber Association is considering a scheme for the establishment 

 of a central godown, to which all rubber that the sellers desire 

 to have awarded will be sent. Samples will be taken by an 

 official and for those worthy of award, a kind of certificate will 

 be given stating the nature of the rubber, the quantity, etc. This 

 certificate will be sold as representing the rubber, payment to be 

 made within a few days of the sale. This certificate can be resold 

 until it reaches the party who wishes to ship the rubber, payment 

 in each case being made within a given time. It seems there will 

 be a limit to the number of buyers of a certificate, probably six. 

 It is felt that such a measure, if actually carried out, would be 

 very useful : first, insuring the last buyer against inferior goods ; 

 second, enabling an estate to receive payment quickly; third, 

 cutting out much undesirable speculation. 



A certain Dr. Braddon has written a long letter to a local paper 

 in which he unfolds an ingenious scheme for bringing back the 

 good old days of 100 and 200 per cent dividends. His plan is that 

 producers, dealers, and brokers would form a combine with a 

 capital of £30,000,000. This combine would buy up rubber at an 

 agreed on all-in cost of Is. 6d. per pound which would then be 

 sold to buyers at 4s. 6d. per pound. The 3.y. thus gained over 

 an already exaggerated cost would be equally divided among pro- 

 ducers and shareholders. The Government would aid by refusing 

 to alienate further land for rubber and would get the govern- 

 ments of other rubber producing countries to do likewise. Of 

 all the schemes hatched out in these feverish times, this one is 

 certainly best calculated to meet the unanimous approval of the 

 rubber producer and shareholder. 



THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES 



In spite of protests it seems that the new taxes will go through. 

 Export duties on most products are to be levied for a period of 

 three years. In the case of rubber the taxes will be on a sliding 

 scale and levied as follows, on an average market price of: 



Gilders 0.82I/J— 0.90 tax!4% Gilders 1.10—1.20 tax 3% 



liilHers 0.90 — l.On tax 1% Over 1.20 tax 4% 



Gilders 1.00 — l.IO tax 2% 



So-called slab rubber will be subject to a reduction of 12 

 per cent. 



