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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[May 1, 1917. 



The Rubber Trade in Great Britain. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 



THE somewhat panicky buying of rubber during the latter 

 half of February did not go far in raising prices, which 

 remain at much the pre-war level in contradistinction to 

 most other raw materials of industry. Of course, if the largely 

 increased output promised from the Eastern plantations for 1916 

 had not matured, no doubt we should have seen much higher 

 prices owing to the war demand. As it is, this had neutralized 

 the loss of the Central Empire's market and prevented what many 

 predicted for 1917, viz., a slump in prices owing to over-produc- 

 tion. 



Outside government work it cannot be said that trade is very 

 brisk and among exporters especially there is a feeling that a 

 very quiet time is ahead. With the practical cessation of pleasure 

 motoring the tire branch is, of course, greatly affected. A good 

 deal of export trade, especially with Scandinavia, is much 

 hampered by the lack of shipping facilities. 



"RUB.\STIC" .^^"D RUBBER. 

 The legal case in which the late manager of the "Rubastic" 

 works sought damages for dismissal, resulted in a verdict for 

 the defendants, the directors of the concern. It was given in evi- 

 dence for the defense that "Rubastic," which was supposed to be 

 a non-rubber substance of substantial merit, really owed its .Tierits 

 to an admixture of rubber. This may or may not have been a 

 fact, as the plaintiff denied this, but whether or no, the case calls 

 to mind more than one proprietary non-rubber article which has 

 made a fleeting appearance on the market in the past and, in 

 which, when a legal case was the sequel to a dispute, it was 

 shown that what merit the material possessed was due to a ju- 

 dicious admixture of the old established body, rubber. It is quite 

 possible that "Rubastic" does not contain rubber as ordinarily 

 made, but that its properties can be so improved by an addition 

 of rubber tliat a super "Rubastic" has been made containing a 

 proportion of rubber. The rather delicate question then arises 

 as to how it ought to be designated. Goods which contain no 

 more than ten per cent of rubber and a lot of substitute are reg- 

 ularly sold as rubber goods without any outcry being heard, 

 though one of these days it may be enacted that the title shall be 

 that of the .najor and not the minor constituent. 



A FORERUNNER OF FtTTURE LABOR PROBLEMS. 

 There have been many prophecies to the effect that most if not 

 all of the belligerent countries are in for labor troubles after the 

 war, mainly because of the disinclination of workers to take more 

 normal wages than those which have been paid in the rush and 

 stress of war goods production. The rubber trade has already 

 had its beginning without waiting for the termination of hos- 

 tilities. In a Northern police court a waterproofing firm claimed 

 damages from some men who left without giving due notice upon 

 being put on ordinary work because the government work at 

 which they could earn more money had come to an end. It was 

 stated, incidentally, that boys were earning up to $8 per week. 

 The case was decided in the manufacturer's favor. 



WATERPROOFING INDUSTRY SCHEDULED BY THE GOVERN- 

 MENT. 



The rubber manufacture, as also the waterproofing of material 

 with non-rubber substances, have been scheduled by the Govern- 

 ment as businesses of primary importance. This means that man 

 power may not be compulsorily withdrawn so as vitally to affect 

 the carrying on of any works, and also that new hands may be 

 engaged as and when required. In the case of non-essential in- 

 dustries this cannot be done. Naturally there are many differing 

 opinions among individuals as to whether particular trades are 



or are not essential. Even in rubber manufacture it would be 

 difficult to prove that all the output is essential. 



EAST AFRICA PLANTATIONS. 



At a recent meeting of the East Africa Rubber Plan- 

 tation, Inc., with the Tewa Rubber Estates, Limited, the Kamna 

 Rubber Estates, Limited, and the Muhesa Rubber Plantation, 

 Inc., for the purpose of considering the policy to be pursued in 

 the immediate future in what was formerly German East Africa, 

 it was decided to amalgamate at the first opportunity. There is 

 to be an independent valuation of the assets of each company 

 and in the meanwhile the companies are to work together so as 

 to effect the greatest economies in administration. The fact that 

 in the last year the East Africa Rubber Plantation, Inc., ex- 

 pended only iSO shows that there is not much prodigality to 

 subjugate. 



THE RUBBERINE COMPANY, LIMITED. 



At the annual meeting of this company it was announced that 

 Edward Taffen had been appointed chairman in place of the 

 Hon. A. R. S. Douglas, who is on active service. A. T. Marks, 

 the manager, has been appointed managing director. A ten per 

 cent dividend was declared. This progressive company, which 

 has been located at Hornsey, London, has now practically com- 

 pleted a new works at Market Road, London, N. 



MOTOR TRUCK RIDES FOR SOLDIER CONVALESCENTS. 

 A frequent sight in many of the large cities is a truck load 

 of sick and wounded soldiers out for an airing. It has come 



Wounded British Soldiers Taking an Outing. 



to be a common practice for many business houses to loan their 

 trucks or automobiles for such purposes. A happy party of this 

 kind is shown in the motor-lorry loaned by the London Good- 

 year company. 



THE INDIA RUBBER MANUFACTLIRERS' ASSOCIATION, INC. 



Among the many changes which the war has brought about 

 is a disposition on the part of manufacturers in various branches 

 of industry to form combinations of individuals and firms so as 

 to act collectively and to greater effect in matters affecting trade 

 interests generally. This movement has embraced the chemical, 

 iron and steel, pottery trades, etc., and now the rubber trade has 

 come more or less into line by the incorporation of the above- 



