36C 
hardened  and  our  only  mechanical  requirement  would  be  a machine 
capable  of  getting  rid  of  the  pith  in  the  most  expeditious  way. 
A mechanical  engineer  whose  reputation  in  the  Straits  is  de* 
servedly  of  the  highest  and  who  assisted  us  in  erecting  and  work- 
ing both  decorticators,  is  of  the  opinion  that  his  firm  could  con- 
struct such  machinery  in  Singapore. 
13.  As  a catchcrop — Ramie  is  a suitable  catchcrop  for  either 
Para  rubber  or  coconunts.  We  have  both  products  planted  amongst 
our  ramie  and  at  the  price  given  above,  the  profits  from  ramie 
might  cover  the  whole  expense  of  opening  an  estate  within  four 
years  from  planting.  Planted  a few  feet  from  the  trees,  ramie  does 
not  affect  the  growth  of  either  product.  Within  five  years  from 
seed  our  rubber  is  giving  small  but  uselul  returns  and  some  of  our 
coconuts  are  bearing  crop  at  four  years  old. 
The  first  few  weedings  are  expensive  but  the  upkeep  rapidly 
declines  and  no  special  cultiv'ation  would  be  necessary  if  the  plant- 
ing was  done  properly. 
14.  State  Aid — 1 suggest  that  the  question  as  to  what  assis- 
tance Government  might  give  to  encourage  the  erection  of  degum- 
mers  in  the  Straits  or  Malay  States  might  be  left  in  abeyance 
pending  evidence  that  practical  spinners  are  interested  in  the 
subject. 
If  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  forward  a copy  of  this  letter  to  Mr. 
EdwardS-RadCLIFFE  he  will  no  doubt  lay  it  before  his  Spinning 
friends,  and  they  will  be  able  to  decide  if  they  can  afford  to  guar- 
antee four  pence  a pound  for  filasse  on  the  plantation,  they  to  bear 
all  expenses  after  decortication. 
Assuming  that  it  costs  them  a further  sum  of  four  pence  a pound 
to  convert  the  ribbons  into  filasse  and  ship  the  latter  to  their  spin- 
ning mills  in  Europe,  it  will  only  equal  the  quotations  I have  had 
for  the  best  quality  of  cotton  produced  on  the  estate  i.e.  eight 
pence  a pound. 
All  the  ramie  spinners  I have  met  maintain  the  superiority  of 
ramie  to  cotton,  and  if  they  are  disposed  to  show  that  they  have  the 
courage  of  their  opinion,  I will  recommend  our  shareholders  to  raise 
sufficient  funds  to  open  a large  area  with  ramie. 
The  question  of  Spinning  and  Weaving  in  the  Straits  might  1 
think  be  left  open  until  the  degumming  has  proved  a success. 
At  the  request  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Planters  Association,  I 
am  sending  a copy  of  this,  together  with  Mr.  Edwards-RadcLIFFE’s 
letter,  to  the  Hon : Secretary  for  discussion  at  our  next  meeting. 
I have  the  honour  to  be. 
Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  servant, 
CYRIL  E.  S.  BAXENDALE. 
