RUBBER IN PAPUA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2677, 4 August 1913, Page 7

RUBBER IN PAPUA.

Some time ago the LieutenantGovernor of Papua (Judge Murray) made arrangements for a 41b sample of rubber grown in the territory being tested at the Imperial Institute m England. lu view of the fact that a rubber expert (Mr Ellis) had expressed the opinion that Papua was particularly suitable for growing the trees and the natives might be trained &* expert tappers, the result has been watched with interest. Tho report of the testa has mow come to hand, and Judge Murray, in a letter to the Minister for External Affairs (Mr Thomas), state* that he considers it extremely satisfactory. , Idle expert states that the thin sheets of pale brown rubber which had been submitted were clean and very well prepared, the physical properties of the rubber being excellent. The commercial value might be set down at 4s per lb in London, with hard Para rubber at 3s lid, and fair average quality plantation shoe to and hi** emits at 3s 10|d to 3s ll*d per lb. The report concludes; —“This rubber is of excellent quality, both as regards chemical composition and physical composition and physical properties. In these respects it is quite equal to the best plantation rubber produced in the East, and consignments of similar Character would always realise the current market price of the highest grade of plantation rubber. The prospects of the cultivation of the Pair® tree in Papua-, therefore, appears to bo exceedingly promising.”