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objective, and the policy of fostering sound enterprises other than 

 rubber should be an encouragement to those who realize the necessity 

 for such a policy." 



I believe it to be almost universally acknowledged that, apart 

 from any special consideration for the increased prosperity of the 

 country (which consideration, however, we know does exist secretly 

 in the hearts of us all) other products, although not perhaps of so 

 attractive a nature as rubber, would be welcomed only too gladly, 

 could a satisfactory demonstration be given to the investor as to a 

 reasonable return on the capital outlay. And I am convinced that 

 hopes are more or less widely entertained by both planter and 

 investor regarding the discovery and ultimate commercial success of 

 some other propositions. 



N^ow, perhaps one of the most interesting and astounding facts 

 connected with the exploitation of rubber, which, as a payable 

 industry, has now reached such vast proportions in this and many 

 other tropical countries, is that in its early life a very large number 

 of its supporters never pretended to 61aim any real belief at all in its 

 possibilities. The whole thing was started as a pure speculation, as 

 there were naturally no i-eliable figures to work upon. 



The small point that you see I am trying to make is that we 

 need not of necessity veto a new enterprise merely for want of 

 figures as to its intrinsic merits. We will all, I think, agree that 

 every new enterprise must be attended by a very considerable 

 amount of risk, and I am quite prepared to believe that as time goes 

 on numbers of people will be found to take risks, as they did nearly 

 20 years ago, and by doing so enlarge the sphere of planting 

 possibilities, and continue to demonstrate what the resources of the 

 country really are. Personally, I say, may I be there to see. 



Mr. Pinching wished to know wliether, if the products 

 Mr, Spring had mentioned were taken up, a market could be found 

 for them. He knew of a planter in Sumatra who had tried ordinary 

 chillies and found that he got a good price for them. This induced 

 him to take up his whole plantation and to put down chillies instead, 

 but the good price had attracted others and when the produce was 

 put out he found there was no market for it. (Laughtei*.) Such 

 minor products were therefore very doubtful. 



Mr. Spring said he quite agreed with Mr. Pinching about minor 

 products, but if it was taken up on a small scale the Department 

 would be able to know how much was planted up, and the knowledge 

 gained would enable the Department to give such planters a warning 

 note that they should not plant up any more. 



Mr. Eaton believed that the proposal had been already accepted 

 regarding experimental coconut plantations. He agreed that they 

 did require larger areas in order to acquire information regarding 



