SMOKING RUBBER 215 



used the better. If its use could be entirely avoided it would 

 be a great gain. 



It is, however, from the thorough curing by means of smok- 

 ing thin films and successive layers of the fine hard Para at a 

 time that it derives the special qualities which rubber manufac- 

 turers prize so highly and pay so dearly for. If plantation 

 rubber is to compete on equal terms with fine hard Para it would 

 appear that it must be in some form of smoked rubber prepared 

 in a thorough and efficient manner. 



To illustrate how vitally important this matter is, let us con- 

 sider this matter from another point of view. We have spoken 

 of the manufacturer's loss what of the loss to plantation com- 

 panies? In the near future some 50,000 tons of rubber will 

 reach the market from plantations in the East. If fine hard 

 Para is then selling at 45. 6d. ; and plantation rubber was 

 then thought to be of equal quality and paid for at the rate of 

 43. 6d. per pound also, but plus the actual difference in weight 

 after washing, then each pound of plantation rubber would sell 

 at nearly 55. per pound, and plantation companies would receive, 

 approximately, 2,800,000 more money for the 50,000 tons 

 than would be paid on the present footing. This money seems 

 worth looking after. 



A further important point which should not be lost sight of is 

 that if supply should at any time overtake demand, the salva- 

 tion, if not of the rubber plantation industry, or at least of some 

 of the weaker companies engaged in it, may have to be found in 

 the fact if fact it then is that plantation rubber is fully equal 

 in quality to fine hard Para. If it is, it will be purchased in 

 preference and command a sufficiently higher price to yield a 

 fair profit to plantation companies. In that case the Brazilian 

 exporters will have to face a sore struggle for existence, while 

 supplies of plantation rubber, however large, will, for many a 

 long year, meet with a ready demand at sufficiently remunera- 

 tive rates. 



