The economic life of a rubber tree has not been definitely extab-Vished yet and it naturally will vary considerably according to the clevation, the fertility of the soil and the treatment thit has been meted out to the tree but, whatever the Wife may turn out to be, it seems to me to be eminently desirable to have a second string to our bow, in the shape of young estate planted up on the most. scientific principles, on which to full back when the day comes that the trees the older property have passed their prime, T do not wish you to gather from thave remarks that the trees Kroewoek have already passed their prime and are now on the down grade because such is far from being the case; they are at, present in splendid fettle and yielding very entisfactorily.
Furthermore, the risk of serious damage to the estate from an eruption is always with us and although your board have tried to cover this Yyisk by insurance they have not yet succeeded in securing the quotation of a rate that would cover all the contingencies that might arise, Any rate of premium that may he quoted is likely to be a pretty heavy one and in any event insur ance would only recoup you for the actual damage done to your proerty, whereas an alternative estate would enable us to make good permanently any loss of output from the older property. this position would only last for a very few yeats after which the dividend per share should be very largely augmented by the profit earned on the produce from the new property.
Before concluding my remarks, T should like to state that, although your directors recommend the acceptance of this offer, they are in no way trying to force the issue and the decision therefore lies entirely in your hands.
That is all I have to say, gentlemen, and the resolution is now open to discussion.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.