RUBBER CROP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23707, 14 January 1939, Page 17

RUBBER CROP

PRICE TOO LOW PLANTER’S OPINION Restrictions placed on the planting of trees in rubber-producing areas are expected to have an effect next year when growers expect better prices, according to Mr G. Jeppe, a Dutch rubber planter who has lived in the Dutch East Indies for 29 years. Mr Jeppe arrived at Wellington recently in the course of a tour of Australia, New Zealand, and North America before returning to Holland to spend his retirement.

Mr Jeppe said he had been managing a large rubber plantation on the east coast of Sumatra until recently but conditions had been difficult for rubber planters during recent years. Better prices were expected next year, however, as a result of the restricted production. Rubber prices had increased considerably since the depression years but the producers would not be in a sound economic position until the price was 9d or lOd a pound. The restrictions imposed on _ planting were rigidly enforced, he said. A grower could only plant young trees under Government licence and then only at the rate of a 5 per cent, increase on his plantation in two years. Production costs were higher in Sumatra than in Java because all plantation labour had to be imported from lava. The Javanese made good plantation workers, but the natives of Sumatra, who were Malays, would not take field work. The well-educated Malays were good office workers and were much sought after as bookkeepers. The majority,of the Malays lived off the land, however, and did not do much work. Dutch Interests Holland had no difficulties with her native subjects, Mr Jeppe said in answer to a question. There were about 60,000,000 natives in the Dutch East Indies and only about 300,000 or 400,000 Europeans. The Javanese were a particularly good type and supplied excellent sailors for the Dutch East India Navy. Dutch interests in the East were the same as those of Britain, as they were in Europe and the Mediterranean, and the people of Holland were very friendly towards Britain, Mr Jeppe declared. They all considered Holland and Britain were lucky to have ruling Houses and the Dutch in the East Indies had been delighted at the birth of Princess Juliana’s daughter, “We hope to rejoice in the birth of another royal child this year,” he said.