270 THE RUBBER INDUSTRY 



the Malay Peninsula costing not less than 4,500 dollars, 

 and often exceeding that sum. Then, again, Government 

 regulations are not enforced concerning lines for coolies 

 or for hospitals, although, for the most part, both these 

 important essentials are well looked after by the estate 

 managers. As a rule the Javanese coolies prefer to live 

 in small huts, divided into two or three rooms, and this 

 type of building is found generally on the plantations, 

 in contrast to the barrack-like accommodation provided 

 in Malay, Sumatra, and Ceylon. 



As in all rubber-growing countries, the larger pro- 

 portion of the outgoings is for the payment of labour 

 and cost of management. The rate of wages varies 

 so greatly even in the same district, as explained 

 elsewhere that no hard and fast rule can be laid 

 down for estate expenditure, but an average costjover 

 a number of plantations in various localities gives 

 an approximate estimate of the necessary expenses. 

 Another factor to be taken into account is that man- 

 agers and assistants are paid small salaries, with a 

 bonus on profits. The custom in Java is to allow 

 the manager 10 per cent, and the assistants %\ per 

 cent, on the net profits, in addition to a fixed salary 

 of about 500 per annum for the former and 250 

 for the latter. This rate is paid on important pro- 

 perties, with extensive interests at stake; on small 

 plantations a lower remuneration is given. When an 

 estate has reached the producing stage, this bonus 

 system appeals strongly to the individual manager, but 

 many complaints are heard in connection with newly 

 opened rubber plantations, where four or five years must 

 elapse before the concern becomes dividend-paying ; 



