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no solution of the problem to present a series of standards to 
the producer without at the same time providing a method and 
system whereby he can accomplish the task of uniformly pro- 
ducing to standard. If a method of production cannot be 
found that will ensure uniformity of output from individual 
estates, then central factories will have to be seriously con- 
sidered, notwithstanding the many drawbacks and difficulties 
which at present appear to block the way to such a means of 
surmounting variability. Sir Edward Rosling has suggested 
that large manufacturers can blend plantation rubber on a 
large scale, as is done with tea, and doubtless manufacturers 
are already doing this; but this requires colossal capital, and 
will tend to keep the manufacture of rubber goods in the hands 
of a powerful few. Whereas if the producer can supply a 
uniform article the manufacturing field will be open to many, 
and both producer and consumer will benefit by plenty of 
healthy competition. 
Mr. G. Starrorp WuitTsy: Mr. President and Gentlemen 
—I should like to emphasize; if I may, something that fell 
from the lips of Dr. Schidrowitz. He said that he thought it 
extraordinarily unfortunate that in the past the discussions 
which have taken place with regard to the preparation of 
plantation rubber have been characterized to a large extent 
by mere expressions of pious opinion rather than by the bring- 
ing forward of concrete and definite facts—experimental 
results. I think it is particularly in regard to the subject which 
we are discussing this morning, the subject of variability, that 
such a remark has force, because if one enumerates, one after 
the other, the factors in ordinary plantation procedure that 
may possibly affect the quality of the rubber, and that, there- 
fore, may possibly be factors in variability, one cannot but be 
struck by their vast number; and during the last year, whilst 
this question of variability has been canvassed so much, the 
view has been expressed in one quarter that the cause of vari- 
ability is this factor, and in another that the sole cause of 
variability is that factor. Weave had proposals, for instance, 
that we should separate our rubber into that produced from 
trees over nine years of age and that produced from trees 
under nine years of age, and we are told that if we do that all 
will be well. Or we are told that if only we are sufficiently 
careful to standardize the amount of acid used in coagulation 
all will be well. Asa matter of fact, it is impossible to attri- 
bute variability to one single factor in that way. The possible 
factors are very numerous indeed, and I would insist that it is 
impossible to dismiss on a priori grounds as unimportant any 
factor that may possibly influence the result. What is required 
in the first place, and what is required fundamentally, is more 
