Part V.] Pearson: Note on the Utilization of Bamboo. 
45 
(10) Labour. 
A certain amount of local labour is available. It is said that 12 
villages situated on the Thonze and lying between the forest and the 
Railway could supply 300 to 400 coolies from June to November, but 
that in December the number would be reduced, owing to the commence¬ 
ment of rice harvest. On the other hand, were a mill to be started in 
these parts, it is probable that a far larger number of coolies would be 
forthcoming, once it became known that regular labour was obtainable 
on piece-work. 
Turning now to the amount of work a man can do, it is known from 
experience that a good labourer can extract about 5,000 Kyathaung 
stems between June and November, so that 400 men could work out 
2,000,000 stems in that time. Taking one stem as yielding roughly 
15 lbs. of dry Kyathaung internodes, 400 men would extract 30 million 
lbs. or about 13, 400 tons in the six months. The above figures make no 
allowance for loss in transit, so that 12,000 tons would be a safer 
figure to quote, and this amount would not be sufficient to supply a 
large mill. Under the circumstances it would be necessary to import 
labour, either from the neighbouring districts or from India, as is done 
to harvest the rice crop. 
There would be no difficulty in procuring contractors who would 
undertake to exploit the bamboos. 
The official rate for labour is 8 annas a day, though probably 9 annas 
would have to be given. It is said that a good workman can earn Re. 1 
per day during the harvest season. 
(11) Firewood. 
About 100,000 c.ft. stacked firewood is annually available from the 
Plains Forests. Supposing the fuel supply required for a mill to be 
greater than the above amount, a rough working-plan could be prepared 
for the Thewa and Kauni Fuel Reserves, and the coupes so arranged 
that a sustained annual yield could be procured. To do this arrange¬ 
ment would have to be made in advance. 
The price of fuel at Tharrawaddy is Rs. 2-6-0 per 100 c. ft. stacked 
and at Thonze Rs. 2-12-10. 
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