Life Of Rubber Planter In Malaya

Northern Advocate, 26 September 1946, Page 8

Life Of Rubber Planter In Malaya

A first-class cook for £2/10/- a month and a butler for a little less were some of the things that made life easier and pleasanter in Malaya Mr Travers H. Morrison, of Whangarei, told a large audience at the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce quarterly meeting. “On being invited out to dinner it was not uncommon to recognise your own cutlery on the table,” he said. ‘‘This was no cause for alarm as your host’s boy had probably been short of a few spoons and forks so he borrowed the required number from your boy. The boys were strictly honest and you knew that the cutlery would be returned in time for you to use at breakfast.” Mr Morrison spoke of rubber growing and tin mining as he had seen it before the Secoiid World War. His lecture was illustrated by numerous lantern slides made from photographs he had taken while in various parts of Malaya. , DOUBLE-HEADERS Snakes with two heads were no dipsomaniac’s dream in the Peninsula. These reptiles only grow to a size of six inches, he continued, and are perfactly harmless. They had a body like that of any other snake except that they have two perfectly formed necks and heads. These snakes have only one mouth and throat and are a constant source of amazement to tourists. Pythons grow a little bigger, one Mr Morrison shot being over 24ft. in length and some are nearly 30ft long. Other Malayan snakes Mr Morrison mentioned included the deadly brown cobra and harmless “garden” snakes which ate insects. A creeper common in all parts of Malaya which when touched even very lightly will droop and wilt in a matter of seconds, as if dead, was described. If left undisturbed it will quickly recover. Mr Morrison related how he amused himself by stepping on the edge of a mass of this creeper in the jungle and watching about 20 square feet of it quickly collapse. A vote of thanks to Mr Morrison and his projectionist, Mrs M. Schmidt, was carried by acclamation.