454 



A Use for Dividends. 



If you consider what is necessary, I think you will see 

 that what you require, at any rate in every large district, 

 is a really independent scientific observer who can co- 

 operate with those emploj^ed by Government; and I cannot 

 conceive any better reserve fund, in which part of the large 

 dividends now being derived from rubber can be invested, 

 than in providing additional rubber experts under the direc- 

 tion of the Planters' Association (hear hear). I believe 

 that no better permanent reserve fund can be formed, be- 

 cause after all in the most ordinary way rubber every year 

 is taking something from the soil. What are you doing to 

 replace that something! 



Scientific Study. 



Of course, in nature something is being taken from the 

 soil by rubber in such places as the virgin forests of the 

 Amazon, but by means of the white ant that constituent is 

 being restored to the soil which has been depleted by the 

 rubber. Here you look after your labour and your weed- 

 ing, but the fact remains that you cannot go on taking cer- 

 tain constituents from the soil. You at last come to the 

 time when your rubber, as with the gold streaks in quartz, 

 begins to pinch out. This is another argument in favour 

 of the scientific study of the industry by the Government and 

 by those who are more immediately interested in the matter. 

 I am afraid that I have talked to you a long time, but I 

 think it is necessary at a time when everything is looking 

 very promising, and people are inclined to be optimists. 



Optimism. 



I myself am an optimist in regard to rubber and a great 

 many other things, and that optimism is found on a firm 

 belief in the intelligence and resources of my countrymen. 

 I think it is the only thing which justifies the optimism be- 

 cause there is no doubt there are a great many dangers 

 surrounding the agricultural industry of this country — 

 dangers that are far more numerous than any of us have 

 any idea of — but I feel assured that my countrymen will 

 face that condition of things with the spirit and the courage 

 that characterises them on such occasions, and that they 

 will strive to make agriculture a permanent source of em- 

 ployment and riches to this country and the community. 



