Gums, Resins, 298 [Oct. 1906. 



THE INDIA-RUBBER MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION. 



35. This Association, which was formed seven years ago to promote the 

 interest of the rubber trade, and " especially with reference to legislation and to 

 difficulties in the general conduct of the business," is one exclusively of firms possess- 

 ing india-rubber works, and includes twenty-five of the india-rubber manufactur- 

 ing firms of Great Britain. General meetings take place once a month in Manchester, 

 and on June 21st and again on July 20th I attended the meetings and gave addresses on 

 Plantation Rubber and the Progress of Rubber Planting in the East. Samples of 

 washed plantation rubber and of rubber latex, both from Hevea brasiliensis and 

 from Ficus elastica were shown, and the photographs to illustrate modes of tapping 

 and the growth of the trees were exhibited and described. This opportunity of 

 meeting the heads and representatives of large manufacturing interests, and of 

 putting the problems of rubber cultivation and preparation before them from the 

 planters' point of view, was of the greatest value, and the views which I had been 

 gradually ascertaining Avere perfectly confirmed. At the same time, the interest 

 taken in England in rubber growing was stirnidated by having the conditions under 

 which that work is done expounded. I should recommend that communication be 

 established between the United Planters' Association and the Association of 

 India-Rubber Manufacturers, and that questions which may arise from time 

 to time be freely discussed between the two Associations, and I am confident 

 that any help which the India-Rubber Manufacturers' Association could give, 

 in this way, to rubber planting would be freely at the disposal of the United 

 Planters' Association. The following is the name and address of the Secretary 

 of the Association. 



P. B. KNOTT, Esq., A.S.A.A., 



2, Cooper Street, Manchester. 



INFORMATION ABOUT THE MALAY PENINSULA IN LONDON. 



36. At present there is considerable activity shown in London amongst 

 controllers of capital in rubber planting in Ceylon and the Malay Peninsula, and 

 every sign of still further advance in this direction. From the point of view of 

 the future interests of the industry and the permanent welfare of this country, 

 the greatest encouragement should be shown to capitalists who intend to actually 

 open up country and plant, rather than make profit by company promotion. In 

 this connection there is an unexpected difficulty in obtaining information in London 

 about the Malay States, and the conditions under which land can be acquired, held, 

 and utilised, for planting. This acts as a distinct check to that class of investor 

 which is most to be encouraged. Cases of this came under my personal notice ; 

 copies of the Land Acts and Ordinances of the Malay States and of the rules under 

 these Acts could only be obtained as a favour from the Colonial Office ; conditions 

 of labour supply and all details connected with the manner and cost of opening 

 and development of an estate at the present date, are difficult to obtain by the 

 investing public, and steps might with advantage to this country be taken towards 

 supplying the Avant, by the establishment of an office in London supplied with quite 

 recent and reliable information on all matters relating to planting and agriculture 

 in the Malay Peninsula. 



P. J. BURGESS, M.A., F.C.S., 



Government Analyst, 



Singapore. 



