550 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[June 1, 1917. 



DEATH OF A CHINESE RUBBER PLANTER. 

 The death of a prominent Chinese, Towkay Loke Yew, of 

 Kuala Lumpur, is announced. The deceased, who was 72 

 years old, came to Malaya about 60 years ago, and began his 

 prosperous career as shop assistant. He possessed extensive 

 properties, three rubber estates, coconut groves, cement works, 

 oil mills, etc., and held large interests in several enterprises, such 

 as the Malayan collieries, the Straits Trading Co., the Straits 

 Steamship Co., Perak and Selangor, all of which owed much of 

 their development to his activities, and his services were duly 

 recognized in both China and Great Britain. The University 

 of Hongkong bestowed on him the honorary degree of LL.D., 

 and England created him a Companion of the Order of St. 

 Michael and St. George. Kuala Lumpur honored him by turn- 

 ing out in large numbers to attend the funeral. 



IMPORTS OF RUBBER MANUFACTURES. 



The importation of manufactures of rubber forms a significant 

 part of the trade of the Malay Peninsula. The total imports 

 into Straits Settlements for four years were: 1913. £201,821; 

 1914, il94,913; 1915, £276,924; 1916 (nine months), £212,025. 



Tires, which were not specially mentioned before 1915, have 

 since been given a special heading as they now form the most 

 important part of the manufactured rubber imports, the value 

 for nine montKs in 1916 being £192,620. It is interesting to note 

 that whereas the amount supplied by Japan before the war was 

 about one-half of that from the United Kingdom, it is now 

 double. 



THE SITUATION IN THE DUTCH EAST INDIES. 



By a Special Correspondent. 

 INTER.\.^TION.^L EXHIBITION AT SOURABAYA. 



IT is proposed to hold an international exhibition at Sourabaya, 

 Java, from May 1 to November 1, •1919, or as soon as possible 

 after the conclusion of peace. This exhibition, which will be 

 known as the Algenieene Nederlandsch-Indische Tentoonstelling 

 Soerahaia (called in brief the A.N.I.T.A.), will be a general 

 exhibition of agriculture, cattle-breeding, fisheries, commerce and 

 industries, in the Netherlands East Indies. 



Although the exhibition is a private one promoted by promi- 

 nent residents of Java, the government has officially recognized 

 its aims and objects by appointing a commissioner, who is also 

 one of the committee of promoters, and by authorizing the 

 acting director of the Department of Agriculture, Industry and 

 Commerce to hold a seat on the Advisory Board. A money 

 grant is also being given by the Municipality of Sourabaya in 

 aid of the expenses. 



The exhibition will be held during the dry season and coinci- 

 dent with the completion of the new harbor works at Sourabaya — 

 the largest and most modern in the Dutch East Indies. A special 

 section will be devoted to agricultural implements and electricity 

 in the widest possible sense of the terms, and special buildings 

 will be set apart to meet the requirements. The exhibition 

 grounds will occupy about 75 acres. This opportunity will doubt- 

 less be utilized to the full by American and Japanese exhibitors. 



INTERNATIONAL RUBBER CONGRESS AWARDS. 

 The jury of the International Rubber Congress and Exhibition 

 at Batavia, 1914, has made the following awards : 



I. Planters' Association of Malaya Cup — for the best commercial 



sample of Hcvca rubber : Highlands and Lowlands Estates, 

 Klang. 



II. Grenier's Rubber News Trophy, presented by the owner of 



"Grenier's Rubber News," Kuala Lumpur<| for the best 

 commercial sample of Hevea-ruhhtr produced in the Dutch 

 East Indies: Tjilentab, Tjibadak Estates. 

 III. Van Laer Cup, presented by H. van Laer, superintendent 

 of estates at Pematang Siantas, for the best commercial 

 sample of Hevea-ruhh^r produced in the Federated Malay 

 States : F. M. S. Rubber Co., Kuala Lumpur. 



IV. Medals, presented by the Rubber Growers' Association, 

 London, for the three best commercial samples of smoked 

 sheet: 



Gold Medal : Highlands and Lowlands Estates, Klang, 



F. M. S. 

 Silver Medal : Federated Malay States Rubber Co., 



Kuala Lumpur, F. M. S. 

 Bronze Medal : Yamseng Estates, Perak, F. M. S. 

 Commercial rubber means rubber produced from rubber trees 

 grown on any one estate, out of which at least 5,(K)0 kilos of 

 rubber have been forwarded for sale in one of the rubber mar- 

 kets during the first half of the year 1914. 



TRANSPORTATION OF COOLIES. 



The contract between the Deli planters of Sumatra and the 

 Kon. Paketvaartmaatschappij concerning the transportation of 

 coolies from Java to Deli and znce versa, has expired. By the 

 new contract, this shipping company can no longer be held re- 

 sponsible for the coolies, and in case of desertion, indemnifica- 

 tion cannot be claimed. On the other hand, free passage, second 

 class, is given to a European supervisor, as well as fourth class 

 to one overseer over every 100 coolies. 



THE CENTRAL RUBBER STATION OF JAVA. 



This comparatively new institution, opened at Buitenzorg in 

 September, 1915, was founded to help planters to find new and 

 improved methods of preparation and to turn out a product of 

 excellence and uniformity. 



The chief problem that the director. Dr. O. de Vries, and his 

 assistants are trying to solve is the difficult one of fixing a stand- 

 ard method for inspecting and judging rubber that can be applied 

 to all institutions. 



The establishment began with a capital of about 41,000 florins 

 [$16,400], and is well supported by members and others inter- 

 ested in its prosperity. It is well' equipped with the necessary 

 instruments and machinery, including hydraulic and autoclave 

 presses, Schopper, punch, mixing and creping machines, calender 

 and vulcanizing-pan. 



In a recent report covering his work in an advisory capacity 

 on the East Coast of Sumatra in 1915 and 1916 Dr. Vriens takes 

 up preparation of crude rubber, water supply, oxidation pre- 

 vention, coagulants and anti-coagulants, marking to prevent theft, 

 and diseases and pests. 



He emphasizes the fact that stains in both sheet and crepe are 

 often the result of bad water supply, particularly when contain- 

 ing iron oxide. Filtering through alum or fiber of the areng 

 palm works an immediate improvement. 



Oxidation with consequent graying of the latex and purpling 

 of the surface of the coagulum can be avoided by the use of 

 sodium sulphate or bisulphate in the preparation of crepe and 

 unsmoked sheet, but this is superfluous for smoked sheet. These 

 are the principal anti-coagulants now used in latex cups and cans. 



In coagulation it is desirable to employ a minimum of acetic 

 acid, 0.5 to 1 grain per liter of latex usually being sufRcient. 



Coconut water or coconut milk may be used as a coagulant if 

 obtainable at a low transportation cost. 



To prevent theft, block and sheet rubber are now marked in 

 ways which do not impair the value. This is also desirable in 

 the case of thin crepe, but no satisfactory method has yet been 

 found. Possibly a harmless color mark may be devised. 



The usual measures for disease prevention are encouraged, 

 particularly removal of creepers and moss from the trunks of 

 trees and clearing away as far as possible all wood and roots 

 on or in the ground so that insects will be deprived of all op- 

 portunity to lodge and breed. 



Contrary to the opinion of T. Petch, carbolineum is re- 

 garded an excellent remedy in case of disease, provided the mix- 

 ture with water be not too strong and thoroughly emulsified by 

 shaking at the time of use. 



