SOUTHERN SCENERY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 223, 17 June 1936, Page 10

SOUTHERN SCENERY

Tourist Discouraged at Singapore OPINION REVERSED Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, June 16. “Tourist agents at Singapore told me there was nothing to see in the South Island and that all the beaut? spots were in the itorth Island,” said Mi L. E. White, of Khota Barn, Malaya, who is on a three mcMths’ visit to the Dominion, when Interviewed this more Ing. Mr. White is plantation manager of the Dominion Rubber company.-' estate and has just completed a comprehensive tour of the southern portion of the South Island, including the Eglinton Valley and the new KingstonQueenstown road, as a result of whiea ho has revised the opinion formed by what he was told by Singapore touii.-. agents. "In fact.” be said, that district would be ideal for Malayan planters on leave. The scenery sport and clear air are all wonderful. Rubber planters have been b-iv a difficult time lately, said Mr. "kite, owing to overproduction as a result o extensive planting by the natives in the Dutch East Indies. Lately, however, the output has been restricted to international agreement, which has had the effect of putting up the price When Mr White left rubber was selling at 7d. a pound, which meant that they were just able to make it pay. The rubber output in 1935 was 416,891 tons, and by the international agreement only 65 per cent, of the total crop was a! lowed to be exported. Under this agreement stocks wore going down ai the rate of 10,000 tons a month, and the potential output and consumptiof are expected to balance about 1940 After that it is thought that tile agree ment will continue, but that planters will be able to export 100 pec cent, of their crop in the area. The two plantations wuich are managed by Mr. White cover about 2000 acres, and between 300 and 400 trees are tapped every day. Each is tapped on alternate days, the process consisting of cutting a spiral incision in the bark and placing a cup beneath, into which the sap drains. One tree will produce 61b. of dry rubber a year.