Gums, Resins, 



372 



[Nov. 1906. 



Mr. Smithrtt :— Mr. Wright is quite correct in his statement. I think we 

 may say we have never noticed mould appearing upon fine crepe ; and I think that 

 when the trade becomes used to it, it will sell. But the question I wish to see solved 

 is whether the loss in weight is justified by the time saved. 



Mr. Wright :— It is much easier to manufacture rubber in that form, and the 

 treatment that rubber has to pass through is comparable with cocoa in Ceylou. I 

 know in other countries— South and Central America and the West Indies— they do 

 not regularly wash their cocoa before sending it to the market, but they send it in a 

 sun-dried state. Cocoa is sent home from Ceylon as a washed material, because we 

 want to keep up its high standard of purity. If we can associate the higher 

 standard of purity gained by washing with freedom from the defects of mouldiness 

 and tackiness, I think crepe will ultimately appeal to the Ceylon planters. 



Mr. Jambs Ryan :— It takes a very much longer time to make a given finite 

 biscuit than given finite crApe. The saving in time is practically one of days. 

 This morning a specimen of wet crepe was made in twenty minutes. I timed the 

 machine very carefully, and from the time the latex was poured into the separator, 

 then into the Michie-Golledge machine to be coagulated under difficulties, and it 

 was passed through the Federated Malay States Engineering Co.'s machine, the 

 time from start to finish was twenty minutes. With a vacuum drying machine 

 the further operation would have taken an hour and a half. The result of the 

 experiments in brick rubber that we have made to-day is equal, if not superior, 

 to that of any rubber in the Show. We took some vacuum-dried crepe and 

 subjected it to a pressure of 432 tons — three tons to the square inch of 134 square 

 inches— and the result was a block of rubber which, I was informed by Mr. Campbell 

 of Lanadron, he considered superior to that which had taken the gold medal for 

 the best rubber in the Show. The question of time and the question of packing 

 answer themselves, because the question of ocean freight would certainly not 

 exceed half or two-thirds at the outside of the ocean flight of a given sample of 

 biscuit in box, or crepe in box, or lightly blocked rubber in a box. The question 

 resolves itself into whether the screw pressure which secured block rubber is a 

 method which improved the quality of rubber, which some seem to think it does> 

 or whether it deteriorates quality. Personally I have come to the conclusion 

 that the stored-up energy in blocking rubber promises to improve the individual 

 elasticity and resiliency of rubber— two points I am perfectly certain manufacturers 

 look greatly to. Transparency of appearance is secured by purity. Resilience 

 is a matter which is inherent in the rubber itself. The other point that we have 

 now got to look to is one which can only be determined by a very big series of 

 experiments which have not yet been undertaken. I am sorry that Mr. Carruthers 

 is not here this evening— (A voice : He is here.)— to show us the working of that 

 very ingenious and excellent machine which he has devised, and which unfortunately 

 was damaged in transit, but if he would show us the broad principles we would 

 be glad to wait ten or fifteen minutes longer to listen to it. Rubber is very largely 

 used in electricity. There is the point of electric resistance in rubber, and if we 

 can secure those points of commercial purity and toughness of resilience and the 

 rapid resistance to the strain of buffers, and for springs and coils ; and if we can 

 also get electrical resistance— and we are going to get it— if we could only get it 

 very soon by experiments long before trees are bearing, we shall j|have solved 

 all these problems, and you will have Ceylon at the top of the tree and Para may 

 whistle down the wind. (Laughter and Applause.) 



Mr. Carruthers :— Mr. Ryan in his winning way has forced me to get on 

 my feet, but I do not think I have very much to say, except that I wish very much 

 on behalf of the Farther East to thank these two gentlemen, Mr. Brett and Mr 

 Smithett, for the frank way in which they have told us their requirements and' 



