114 



Discussion. 

 Mr. Pinching asked Mr. Sonter what he meant by standard 

 latex. 



Mr. SouTER explained that he meant the standard that he was 

 accustomed to in his factory. 



Mr. Eaton, in reply to Mr. Pinching, explained the need for 

 managers to carry out investigations into the latex standards of their 

 estates, and also replied to certain questions asked by Mr. Malet in 

 regard to the influence on rubber of dampness in the factory. 



Mr. Irving said that, apart from the minor points raised so far, 

 Mr. P]aton's paper was of prime importance in regard to the valuable 

 information he had given them regarding what he called " slab 

 rubber." He asked whether any steps had been taken to ascertain 

 the views of manufacturers on the matter. 



Mr. Eaton replied that they had taken no definite steps because 

 manufacturers at Home were at preseijt very busy in regard to war 

 work and could not be induced to deal with matters of that kind till 

 after the war. But American manufacturers liad always taken 

 interest in such things and a few of those engaged in the industry 

 here had even tried the method he had explained. He stated that 

 about half a ton of that rubber in the form of crepe had already been 

 forwarded to one of the best known rubber manufacturei's in 

 America for their opinion but so far nothing had yet been heard in 

 reply. He also understood the American General Rubber Company 

 was sending forward rubber of this kind to their own rubber 

 factories in America. A further point he wished to emphasize in 

 regard to his previous remarks in the paper was that, as the rubber 

 he had mentioned usually required rewashing, it could be packed in 

 gunny bags, which would mean an additional saving in cost. 

 According to experiments which he had I'ecently carried out, the 

 best method of preparing " virgin siab " was to liot air dry it at about 

 120° to 130° F. 



A member asked whether the General Rubber Company's 

 product was .in "slab" or crepe. 



Mr. Eaton said he believed it was " slabs " v inch thick. 



