superior advantages that the F. M. S. have so far held in regard to 
plantatioii rubber : it is well to remember that other and neighbour- 
ing countries are only too eager to attract capital, to exploit the 
latent resources of their soil. Without multiplying instances, we 
may point out that in Sumatra land can be had for is. per acre, free 
of quit rent, and that a recently floated concern in British North 
Borneo received from the Chartered Company a pledge to be exempt 
from export duty of any kind for the next 50 years. 
The introduction of these new Land Rules has been felt very 
severely and all the more so, as all previous applications for land 
were held up for over six months. Notwithstanding earnest appeals 
made by your Committee on this point, Government have refused 
to modify their decision in any way. We are however glad to be 
able to report, that our representations have at least in one point 
been successful, viz . : in that the maximum quit rent only becomes 
due after the 6th year, and not after 5 years, as originally gazetted. 
Rubber. 
The triumphant progress of this part of our Agricultural Industry 
has continued unshcked. The fame of the F. M. S. as a rubber 
producing country is spreading far and wide, and capital, both 
British and Continental (especially Belgian) has freely flown in 
during the year under review. 
The Census of acreage in bearing and planting therefore shows a 
considerable increase. There are 39,000 acres under cultivation 
with a reserve of 96,000 as compared with 26,000 and 68,000 in 
1904, and much of the reserve will doubtless come into cultivation 
during the year, Practically the whole of the cultivated area is un- 
der Para Rubber, either interplanted or alone. The returns sent us 
are appended. 
Your Committee would be rash to prophecy the future output in 
lbs. Sufficient to say that the yields from 5-6 year old trees have 
far surpassed our most sanguine hopes, but what the ultimate yields 
will be of these trees as they get older, we cannot forsee, for we 
have no reliable figures to hand over large areas of 7 or 8 years old 
plantations. 
The estimated exports of dry rubber for I 9°5 were 60^ tons, the 
actual amount being 103^ tons,* whilst in the coming year 222 tons 
are estimated. 
Mr. PfennIGWERTH of Lowlands Estate deserves our greatest 
thanks for discovering the value to be obtained from our Rubber 
shavings. This unexpected revenue will be welcome to other Rub- 
ber producing Countries as well as to ourselves. 
* Export from Selangor ... M99 pikuls. 
Do. Perak 34* »> 
Do. Negri Sembilan 200 ,, 
Total ... 1,740 
These are the official figures; our own returns only shew 85 tons, i. e„ i8J tons 
short of the total exported. 
