401 
would  be  an  insurance  against  total  failure ; and,  if  the  venture 
proved  successful,  would  be  recovered  wholly  or  in  part  in  the  form 
of  export  duty;  although,  having  regard  to  the  financial  conditions 
of  the  country  and  the  importance  of  this  subject,  I should  not  re- 
gard it  as  a fatal  objection  to  the  proposal  if  it  was  attended  by  the 
sacrifice  of  material  wealth  on  the  part  of  Government. 
7.  Among  other  crops,  the  cultivation  of  which  might  be  en- 
couraged in  this  manner,  I would  mention  bananas  (for  the  produc- 
tion of  flour  and  fibre)  cassava,  sago,  arrowroot  and  other  starch- 
yielding  plants  ; ground  nuts  as  a source  of  oil  and  oil-cake,  castor 
oil  and  croton  oil,  also  citronella,  cinnamon,  lemon  grass  and  other 
essential  oils  ; the  various  plants  producing  the  dye  and  tanning 
materials  of  commerce,  and,  if  suitable  machinery  is  forthcoming, 
ramie,  sisal-hemp,  bowsti  ing-hemp,  and.  many  other  valuable  fibres. 
8.  The  advantages  that  would  accrue  from  such  a scheme  as  I 
have  ontllned  above  are : firstly,  that  the  small  producer  would  be 
assured  of  a ready  market,  and  knowing  it  to  be  under  Government 
control  would  be  induced  to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunities  thus 
afforded  for  disposing  of  his  produce  at  fair  market  rates.  I am  of 
opinion  that  had  a central  factory  under  Government  control  ex- 
isted in  Klang  some  five  or  six  years  ago,  when  a deal  of  attention 
was  being  paid  by  small  owners  to  the  cultivation  of  coffee,  that 
not  one  of  those  estates  would  have  been  abandoned,  as  the  cul- 
tivator would  have  been  able  to  deliver  his  crop  at  such  a factory 
and  procure  cash  for  the  same  , for  even  with  the  present  low  price 
of  coffee  the  Manager,  after  allowing  for  a small  margin  of  profit 
on  curing  and  shipping  the  coffee,  would  be  in  a position  to  buy 
the  “ cherry  at  a price  which  would  enable  the  native  to  upkeep 
his  estate. 
Another  advantage  to  the  planting  community  and  to  Govern- 
ment indirectly,  would  arise  from  the  fact  that  we  should  be  able 
to  place  a superior  product  on  the  home  market  when  prepared  by 
the  aid  of  modern  machinery,  which  would  earn  a reputation  for 
the  country.  In  this  connection  I would  remind  you  of  the  wonder- 
ful strides  which  are  being  made  in  the  preparation  of  tropical 
products  in  the  hotter  parts  of  America,  methods  which  will  no 
doubt  be  extended  to  the  Philippines  at  no  distant  date,  and  which 
will  undoubtedly  leave  the  native  agriculturist  in  the  lurch. 
9.  It  may  be  argued  that  such  a scheme  as  the  one  suggested 
would  enter  into  unfair  competition  with  private  enterprise,  but  the 
fact  should  not  be  overlooked  that  the  scheme  itself  would  be  to  a 
great  extent,  the  result  of  private  enterprise,  tenders  being  called 
for  in  the  customary  manner. 
10.  The  importance  of  educating  small  settlers  in  the  underly- 
ing principles  of  tropical  agriculture  cannot  be  over-estimated, 
though  I have  very  little  faith  in  such  procedure  at  the  [)rcsent 
juncture,  for  it  is  of  little  avail,  I considered,  teaching  a man  ho\v 
by  extra  care  and  trouble  he  may  secure  a large  crop  than  his 
neighbour,  if  he  cannot  rely  upon  finding  a market  for  his  j)roduc(' 
