150 
greater variability in this grade. That was not so. Our 
reason for discarding crépe rubber was that we found it 
deficient in strength. We found, roughly speaking, that the 
variability of crépe and sheet rubber in respect to vulcanization 
was about the same, but that the finished product made from 
crépe was not so satisfactory as that made from sheet. That 
was our reason for discarding crépe rubber. 
Another point was raised by Dr. Stevens in respect to the 
percentage of bisulphite present in some rubbers. As a matter 
of fact, we tested a very large number of samples, and we did 
find the percentage which I stated, and it was rather a surprise 
tous. It came out in rather a peculiar way. We were manu- 
facturing against a specification of sulphur content, and we 
could not get our goods correct in respect to that percentage. 
I might say that the average percentage of sulphur present in 
the rubbers came out at 0'086 per cent. I do not say that it 
was present as bisulphite; of course, it was almost impossible 
at that stage to say whether it was bisulphite or not that had 
been used; it might have been some other sulphur salt. But 
it was pale rubber, and our experience at the factory has been 
that with pale rubbers we have had more trouble than with 
dark ones. The experiment was only put forward more or less 
as a suggestion that the employment of these salts might be 
investigated. I do not think there are any other points to 
which I have to reply. 
The Prestpenr: We have a large number of experienced 
planters present, and we shall be glad to hear their views. 
Mr. G. H. Gortepce (Ceylon Planters’ Association): 
Mr. President and Gentlemen—The views expressed by the 
various speakers this morning are of the greatest interest 
to us as practical planters—not, gentlemen, as those who take 
the profits, but as the men who have to produce rubber which 
will sell on the market at the best price while produced at the 
lowest figure. The second speaker (Mr. Brett) incidentally put 
the views of the planters with regard to this subject so ably that 
T need not again refer to them. This scientific aspect of the 
question is, as you all know, in the hands of chemists, both in 
Ceylon and Malaya, who are engaged in research work on the 
subject, and I have not the slightest doubt that in the course of 
time we shall get some facts to work upon from the very inter- 
esting experiments that are going on; but until we get those 
facts, and they are supported in the market, you must not 
expect the planter to produce a thing which he cannot sell. 
You may, however, be quite certain that the planter will come 
forward and produce what is needed when he is assured that 
the market will take what he has produced. 
A good deal has been said with regard to the excessive work- 
