i5i 



superior advantages that the F. M. S. have so far held in regard to 

 plantation rubber : it is well to remember that other and neighbour- 

 ing countries are only too eager to attract capital, to exploit the 

 latent resources of their soil. Without multiplying instances, we 

 may point out that in Sumatra land can be had for is. per acre, free 

 of quit rent, and that a recently floated concern in British North 

 Borneo received from the Chartered Company a pledge to be exempt 

 from export duty of any kind for the next 50 years. 



The introduction of these new Land Rules has been felt very 

 severely and all the more so, as all previous applications for land 

 were held up for over six months. Notwithstanding earnest appeals 

 made by your Committee on this point, Government have refused 

 to modify their decision in any way. We are however glad to be 

 able to report, that our representations have at least in one point 

 been successful, viz. : in that the maximum quit rent only becomes 

 due after the 6th year, and not after 5 years, as originally gazetted. 



Rubber. 



The triumphant progress of this part of our Agricultural Industry 

 has continued unslacked. The fame of the F. M. S. as a rubber 

 producing country is spreading far and wide, and capital, both 

 British and Continental (especially Belgian) has freely flown in 

 during the year under review. 



The Census of acreage in bearing and planting therefore shows a 

 considerable increase. There are 39,000 acres under cultivation 

 with a reserve of 96,000 as compared with 26,000 and 68,000 in 

 1904, and much of the reserve will doubtless come into cultivation 

 during the year, Practically the whole of the cultivated area is un- 

 der Para Rubber, either interplanted or alone. The returns sent us 

 are appended. 



Your Committee would be rash to prophecy the future output in 

 lbs. Sufficient to say that the yields from 5-6 year old trees have 

 far surpassed our most sanguine hopes, but what the ultimate yields 

 will be of these trees as they get older, we cannot forsee, for we 

 have no reliable figures to hand over large areas of 7 or 8 years old 

 plantations. 



The estimated exports of dry rubber for 1905 were 6oi tons, the 

 actual amount being 103^ tons,* whilst in the coming year 222 tons 

 are estimated. 



Mr. PFENNIGWERTH of Lowlands Estate deserves our greatest 

 thanks for discovering the value to be obtained from our Rubber 

 shavings. This unexpected revenue will be welcome to other Rub- 

 ber producing Countries as well as to ourselves. 



* Export from Selangor 1,199 pikuls. 



Do. Perak ... 341 



Do. Negri Sembilan ... ... ... 200 



Total ... 1,740 



These are the official figures; our own returns only shew 85 tons, i. c, i8£ tons 

 short of the total exported. 



