Bags.—There are in local use stout canvas bags which have the advantage of being used many times, as long as they are waterproof and kept in good dry condition. Their employment for the conveyance of smoked-sheets would appear to be permitted, but crepe rubbers sent in them are often reported upon as being “massed” at the edges, and hence difficult to “sample.”
Bales.—Attempts to bale rubber for the market have been frequent, but no success seems to have attended the efforts. In some quarters the failure has been ascribed to prejudice on the part of buyers, but it is the opinion of the writers that the objections to baling are, or could be, well-founded. Massed rubber often cannot be inspected properly, and hence is always open to suspicion that internally there may be unsuitable portions.
There have been several schemes put forward for winding crepe rubber on spindles so as to form a cylindrical package complete in itself. We have seen the process, and certainly the method had much which appeared commendable. Apart from other objections which might be raised, there is always the one prominent objection mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
While baling of rubber is thus not likely to suit the general market, there is no reason why, as in one or two instances, it should not be practised by agreement between producer and consumer. It is believed that “slab” rubber is shipped in bales from Sumatra to the U.S.A.
Quite recently a proposal has been put forward to revert to a simple form of baling for ordinary plantation rubber. Under this scheme wooden cases are discarded, the packing material being composed of scrap-grade crepe rubber which, it is claimed, could be put to use by the manufacturer. An obvious drawback would be evident if these bales happened to be exposed to direct sunlight or a continuous high temperature. The tackiness which might supervene would make the handling of such bales unpleasant, even if it did not affect the internal rubber.
Folding for Packing.—In the packing of smoked sheets it would appear to be advisable to avoid, if possible, the folding of any pieces, as the objection is made that such rubber is difficult to “sample” on arrival, especially in cold weather. Sheets should be prepared or cut to such length that they occupy the full superficial area of the box, either singly or side by side.
A Shipment of Rubber, Packed and Ready for Transport.
The same remark applies to the packing of crepe rubbers, except that here we deal with units of folded rubber. Crepes are generally folded by hand, and coolies usually work to a certain dimension by means of a standard stick. The work is slow, but often gives employment, at a cheap rate of pay, to women and weak coolies.