Mr. N. G. Maitland (supported by Mr. E. A. Prince, director, and Mr. W. A. Ogdes, representing Messrs..A, W. Burkill & Sons, secretaries and general managers) presided over the 13th annual general meeting of the Sungei Duri Rubber Estate, Ld., which took place on Thursday afternoon, there being an attendance representing 4,326 shares. In the course of his speech, the chairman said The report and statement of accounts are set forth so clearly and-in such detail that I think it is hardly necessary for me to make any lengthy comment upon them. Although it was anticipated, when compulsory restriction came into force in November last, that costs would be higher, interesting to note, as you will see from the report, that costs on Selama Estate show a fractional decrease over the pre-coding year's figure. On Sungei Duri the cost was slightly higher, this being due to the reduction of crop and the higher cost of supervision owing to the expense entailed by the enyagement of an assistant manager during the manager's absence on Home leave. Still, I think you will agree that both pitoperties are producing at as low a figure as can reasonably be expected and that the "all-in" cost of 7.48d. per lb. compares very favourably with the results obtained by other, estates in the neighbourhood.
There is little regarding the working of the estates that calls for any special remark. As a preventive to disease, work in the nature of clearing the nonproducing area of surface timber on Selama Estate. was completed over an area of 72 acres and will be proceeded with over a larger area during the current year. On Sungei Duri, pests and diseases were almost negligible. Both properties were kept in a clean weeded condition and as regards labour we have ample for all requirements.
Turning to the accounts, it 1s with great pleasure that the directors are once again able to plage before you what may be considered a very satisfactory account of the year's working. The nett profit for the year amounted to Tls. 40,771.06 which, added to the amount of Tls. 28,351.09 brought forward from last year's accounts, makes a total of Tls. 69,192.75 standing to the credit of profit and loss account. With regard to the disposition of this amount, the directors recommend the payment of a dividend of Tls. 0.85 per share which will absorb Tls. 34,000; write off development and asset accounts a sum of Tls. 12,356.82 and carry forward the
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