Cost Of A Rubber
p. 44 · Read in the full issue
Estate
HOW much does it cost to bring a rubber plantation to the productive stage, in New Guinea and Papua*?
Some estimates go to £5O and £6O per acre.
As the question often is asked, we have taken the liberty of extracting some figures from the annual report and balance sheet of Mororo Rubber Estates Ltd., a small Papuan concern of which Mr. G. A. Loudon is chairman.
The estate comprises 579 acres of lease hold, held on 99 years’ lease: and 330 acres have been planted with rubber trees, and are densely cover-cropped with Centrosema. A nursery has been established, containing 10,000 plants.
There are suitable buildings and roads.
Details of costs up to date are as follow; The Company’s prospectus provided for estimates as under:— (1) Felling, planting and covercropping, £6 per acre. (2) Weeding and maintenance, £l/10/per acre. (3) Seven years to bring to production at total cost of £25 per acre.
The Co. now has arrived at the stage where it has exnended £3,765 on 330 acres, equal to £ll/2/9 ner acre.
How much money must it yet find to bring the 330 acres into production?
Here is the calculation:—
Miss Violet Wakely, sister at the Ash field Masonic Hospital, NSW, is at present undergoing a course in tropical medicine at Sydney University to fit her for nurs ing work with the Church of Christ Mission in the New Hebrides.
130 acres planted 1938/9 by Vendor will require 4 years’ weeding and maintenance at 30 - acre £ 780 100 acres planted in April. 1940 will require 6 years’ weeding and maintenance at 30/- acre 900 100 acres planted in April, 1941 will require 7 years’ weeding and maintenance at 30/- acre .. 1,050 Plant, tools and sundries to bring to production 2,730 195 Total of money still to be snent .. 2,925 Already as r>pr Balance Sheet at April, 1941 3,675 Total to bring plantation to production 6.600 Which is equal to cost of £20 per acre.