Rubber Bounty In

Papua

Future of the Industry

IT is believed in some quarters that, owing to strong representations by Sir Hubert Murray, the 2d per lb bounty on rubber production in Papua will be made a permanent thing. The present system is operating satisfactorily. Australia pays the Papuan planters this bounty; and Australia in return receives all the Papuan rubber, which is absorbed into her own industries.

If this bounty is made permanent it will be really a wonderful thing for the Territory of Papua—and, moreover, it will create in that Territory some very attractive opportunities for young Austra lians to establish themselves as rubber planters.

There is in Papua plenty of land suit able for rubber planting;, and rubber production there is not under the restric tions which are in operation in other rub ber-growing countries.