DOMINION RUBBER CO.

Evening Star, Issue 25745, 19 March 1946, Page 6

DOMINION RUBBER CO.

REHABILITATION OF ESTATE CHALLENGE OF SYNTHETIC PRODUCT “ Natural rubber has lost its former monopoly, and the long-term problem of rubber is a real one,” said Mr F. W. Parker, chairman of directors of the Dominion Rubber Company Ltd., at the annual meeting this afternoon. “ The aim of natural rubber growers must be to reduce their costs to as low a level as possible once production is fully or partially resumed. The proportion of plantation and synthetic rubber that will provide world consumers will rest filially on price, fitness, and reliability for the particular mamifactuied article,” he added. The accounts made up to November flO were still based on the old Malayan figures, and during the year the books would be gradually clarified and brought up to date. The company had come through the war years without touching the reserves, and the profit and loss account showed a small profit of £3O, which had been carried to appropriation account, which now stood at £2,468. During the war synthetic rubber plants were built, mostly in the United States, with a production capacity of 1.200.000 tons, and producing to-day at the rate of 950,000 tons, which was almost equal to the pre-war world’s consumption. Fortunately _ for the natural rubber grower, in spite of very great technical improvement, synthetic rubber had not yet become an effective substitute for the natural article except for some special uses. Since natural rubber had this advantage over synthetic rubber, and the latter was still expensive to produce, there was an urgent need for natural rubber production, and the United Nations had regained access to the rubber areas at a very crucial period, continued Mr Parker. SOME GOOD AREAS. Reporting on the condition of the plantation, Mr Parker stated that the ■mature areas had a heavy undergrowth which had to be cleared, but the coolies were suffering , from undernourishment, and were' incapable of urevious standards of work. Heavy moonsoon rain and floods had also interfered with progress, but the clearing of different blocks was proceeding. “ Taken generally, the report on the rubber trees is fair, and some areas very good.” 6aid Mr Parker. “ The exception is an area of 88 acres which was replanted in 1941, and this entire area has been overgrown and the young plants killed off. This area will require complete replanting. The experimental areas of 50 acres and 60 acres have come through well, although covered with jungle growth. All fencing is missing, having been _ stolen bv nearby villagers, but the various buildings are in fair condition.” Damage done to the estate by the Japanese had been reported upon by Mr White, the estate manager,- and it was hoped, said Mr Parker, that he would shortly visit Dunedin to consult with thp directors. Mr White estimated the stores and equipment, lost at £3.645, necessary renovations-to the hospital, bungalow, and factory at £1.450, and reclaiming cultivation and roading and bridges would total £1,700. A claim would be made for reparation, hut, he did not know how it would fare.

Rubber growers bad _ forseen the problems of rehabilitation, and the Malayan Rubber Estate Owners’ Company Ltd. had been formed to subordinate groups or units. _ The Dominion Company had associated with a group formed by Guthrie and Co. Ltd., an English company, with which they had had pre-war dealings, and an agreed method had been determined of sharing profits, added Mr Parker. The question vet to be settle was which estates should be selected for immediate production, hut that decision was subject to the basic purpose of the scheme —the immediate rehabilitation of the industry for productive purposes.