§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonics whether he is aware that the value of rubber imported from the British. Central Africa Protectorate through Chiromo amounted during the year 1898-9 to £10,233 18s., as compared with £1,044 17s. 6d. in 1897-8, showing an increase of over £9,000 in one year; and will he state whether any efforts are being made to regulate the mode of collecting rubber juice, so as to prevent destruction of the rubber vines.
§ MR. BRODRICKYes, it is so stated in the last report on the Protectorate. Regulations regulating the manufacture and sale of rubber were issued on the 1st of September last.