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objective, and the policy of fostering sound enterprises other than 
rubber should be an encouragement to those who realise the necessity 
for such a policy.” 
I believe it to be almost universally acknowledged that, apart 
from any special consideration for the increased prosperity of the 
country (which consideration, however, we know does exist secretly 
in the hearts of ns all) other products, although not perhaps of so 
attractive a nature as rubber, would be welcomed only too gladly, 
could a satisfactory demonstration be given to the investor as to a 
reasonable return on the capital outlay. And T am convinced that 
hopes are more or less widely entertained by both planter and 
investor regarding the discovery and ultimate commercial success of 
some other propositions. 
Now, perhaps one of the most interesting and astounding facts 
connected with the exploitation of rubber, which, as a payable 
industry, has now reached such vast proportions in this and many 
other tropical countries, is that in its early life a very large number 
of its supporters never pretended to claim any real belief at all in its 
possibilities. The whole thing was started as a pure speculation, as 
there were naturally no reliable figures to work upon. 
The small point that you see I am trying to make is that we 
need not of necessity veto a new enterprise merely for want of 
figures as to its intrinsic merits. We will all, I think, agree that 
every new enterprise must be attended by a very considerable 
amount of risk, and I am quite prepared to believe that as time goes 
on numbers of people will be found to take risks, as they did nearly 
20 years ago, and by doing so enlarge the sphere of planting 
possibilities, and continue to demonstrate what the resources of the 
country really are. Personally, I say, may I be there to see. 
Mr. Pinching wished to know whether, if the products 
Mr. Spring had mentioned were taken up, a market could be found 
for them. He knew of a planter in Sumatra who had tided ordinary 
chillies and found that he got a good price for them. This induced 
him to take up bis whole plantation and to put down chillies instead, 
but the good price had attracted others and when the produce was 
put out he found there was no market for it, (Laughter.) Such 
minor products were therefore very doubtful. 
Mr. Spring said he quite agreed with Mi*. Pinching about minor 
products, but if it was taken up on a small scale the Department 
would be able to know how much was planted up, and the knowledge 
gained would enable the Department to give such planters a warning 
note that they should not plant up any more. 
Mr. Eaton believed that the proposal had been already accepted 
regarding experimental coconut plantations. He agreed that they 
did require larger areas in order to acquire information regarding 
