402 
in question in London, he was told that they would take ioo tons 
at ^15, after which they could not guarantee a price. Such a rapid 
change of front was not allowed to pass without comment, and 
your Committee are pleased to be able to report that H. E. the 
Governor considered the matter of sufficient importance to refer to 
Sir F. Abel, who has dealt with the complaint in a manner leaving 
nothing to be desired. 
Memorial to Secretary of State. — -The fact that the Govern- 
ment of India, were planting up a large area in Para Rubber 
(Hevea Braziliensis) was already engaging the attention of your 
Association, when a communication was received from the Secre- 
tary of the Ceylon Planters' Association stating that a memorial on 
the subject had been forwarded to the Secretary of State for the 
Colonies by that body, and inviting our support. I he subject was 
one of such obviously pressing importance that a similar memorial 
was, with as little delay as possible, drawn up and despatched 
through the Resident-General to the High Commissioner for trans- 
mission to the Colonial Office. We have since heard that the reply 
received by the Ceylon Planters’ Association was unfavourable, but 
we have hopes that the additional arguments adduced by us, and 
the great prospective value of the Rubber industry to this country, 
may induce the Secretary of State to consider the subject afresh. 
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, m.p.. 
His Majesty 's Secretary of State, 
For the Colonies, 
Downing Street, London, 
The Humble Memorial of the United Planters’ Associa- 
tion of the Federated Malay States. 
Respect/ til ly Showeth. 
1. That your. Memorialists desire to bring under your considera- 
tion the intention of the Government of India to plant up 10,000 
acres in the Mergui Division of Burmah with the Para Rubber tree 
{Hevea Braziliensis). 
2. That, whilst it is stated by the Revenue Secretary to the 
Government of Burmah that this proposed scheme on the part of 
the Government of India is in the nature of an “ experimental 
measure, ” your Memorialists desire to point out that the acreage 
referred to is at least equal to, if not in excess of, the whole area 
planted by private enterprise in the Federated Malay States and 
the Straits Settlements. 
3. That for the last five years the cultivation of Para Rubber 
has been progressing steadily in this country, and promises in the 
near future to be the main agricultural staple. Owing to the con- 
tinued depression of the coffee market, the Liberian Coffee Estates 
of this Penfnsula have beenalmost without exception planted up with 
Para Rubber, in the same way that Cinchona and Tea were planted, 
with such successful results to that Colony, on the Coffee Estates in 
Ceylon ; at the same time, a considerable area of virgin forest has 
