326 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Nov., 1902. 
In reply as to the sum desired to be voted as expenses for judges, the 
deputation suggested the sum of £100 as a first amount, and to await results. 
Several letters of importance were read from the Chambers of Agriculture 
in Victoria, New South Wales; South Australia, and the Chamber of Commerce 
of Tasmania, all in sympathy with the action taken here on various matters, 
especially in the direction of establishing a Federal Chamber of Agriculture, 
and suggesting an early conference to discuss matters of interstate importance 
to agriculturists. 
Five new members and one society joined during the month—viz., the 
Central Downs Agricultural and Horticultural Society. This makes a total of 
sixteen societies and 121 private members or individual subscribers. A. large 
number of publications have been received, including several measures 
forwarded by the Queensland representatives in the Federal Parliament. ’ 
The Acting Commissioner for Railways has still under his consideration 
the question of the periodical inspection of weights and weighbridges with the 
issue of certificates of correct weights. 
A reply has been urgently requested in time for the next meeting of the 
chamber as to the action that will be taken. 
The reports received from the Roma, Allora, and other representatives 
still point to no change climatically, and urge upon the chamber the serious 
position of the pastoralists and wheat-growers ; also, the urgent necessity for 
action to be taken in evolving the problem of water conservation and chea 
systems of irrigation. This matter is now under the consideration of the 
chamber, who would be pleased to receive any suggestions from practical men 
upon this question as to any results already undertaken in this State of value 
to the small farmer, the system adopted, and the cost, outlay, &c. 
The question of markets was also considered, and a deputation was 
appointed to wait upon the authorities concerned at an early date. 
A paper was promised by R. M. Collins, Esq., of Tamrookum, to be read 
at a special meeting this month, entitled “ Pastoral Interests,” with a special 
reference to the holdings and tenure. 
BANANA RUBBER. 
The Tropical Agriculturist, Ceylon, quoting fromthe Indiarubber and Trades 
Journal, says:—Substitutes for indiarubber appear to be getting more and more 
numerous. ‘The latest idea is certainly the best! As recorded in the pages of 
the Fruit Grower, the information must be of great value to its readers as well 
as to the manufacturing trade. The writer introduces his subject as follows :— 
There have been for many years past attempts to provide a substitute for 
rubber, the market price of which has in the past decade gone up by leaps and 
bounds. ‘There is even talk at times of the supplies giving out. According to 
a report recently received in this country, a method had been patented for 
perfecting the manufacture of an artificial indiarubber from banana fruit skins, 
and a company is to be formed to work the process. Small cuttings of sheet 
rubber made up of a percentage of “‘banana rubber” and Para rubber have 
been exhibited in this country, and it is said to be difficult to tell the difference 
between this combination and pure rubber. It is claimed that banana rubber 
can be made at about half the price of pure Para rubber. When the skins of 
the banana (used according to this process) are proved to be worth more than 
the fruit itself, an enormous impetus will, of course, be given to the trangport 
of bananas from West Africa and other parts of the world, where this fruitis so 
prolific. Itis said that Messrs. Rowntree and Company, of York, who own 
large estates in the West Indies, are making exhaustive experiments in the 
manufacture of banana rubber. 
