The Rubber Industry.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9028, 28 March 1898, Page 1

The Rubber Industry.

Says thrt Pall Mall Gazette :— " Raw rubber is one of the few ■ ii commodities, the supply of which does not appear to fully overtake the demand,; and this is particularly true of the finer varieties, such as the prized Para, the glowing use for which has sent up that description to the recent "record " prices of about 3s 8d per pound. Continued attention is being given to the scientific opening up of new forests in the Brazils ; and we referred recently to a much cheaper method of bringing virgin rubber from the upper reaches of the Oriuoco to Trinidad, instead of receiving it via long overland and Amazonian river journeys to the city of Para for ship* ment. Some attention is also being given to the far Eastern sources of supply ; ani we note that a correspondent, who is iv the Indian Forest Department, predicts that the rubber forests of Burma will be entirely exhousted wichin the next ten years, if the present methods of reckless and immature tapping of the trees are continued, and that yenr by year the output will decrease, until nothing be left. Of course, this is an old complaint with respect, also, to the West African and other forests ; and the rmedy • would seem to be that the virgin* rubber should be collected under the supervision of Europeans wbo have received the requisite training. It, must be admitted, too, that, as time goes on, some of the plantation companies which have been formed in recent years should add considerably to the visible supply ; but there appears still tojje room for more (if properly managed) companies of thn kind When iv " real slump " comes in th cycle '■ craze," it is very probable that quite as mnch rubber will be required ' for the tyres of motors, and other vehicles, as is now used for bicyles to say nothing of the growing use for the article for varied industries. It is pointed out that there are big rubber forests in Thibet and midChina which are as yet comparatively unexploited, and that while private individuals cannot, as a rule, accomplish much in a their development beyond v the " prospecting " stage, there is yet ample room for work on, the part of the State or public companies." "The suitability of the Northern Territory," says the Queenslander, " for the cultivation of indiarubber has been demonstrated by the trees nourishing in the Botanic Gardens at faluierstou. Several applications for areas to be devoted to the growths of rubber trees have been made to the Government authorities, and it 'is stated that leases fur the [purpose will be thrown open,"