§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether effective steps are being taken at the present time in Malaya to put rubber tree seeds to any commercial use; and what steps are being taken to introduce schemes at an early opportunity to make use of these seeds.
Mr. Creech JonesSo far as I am aware there is no commercial use at present. I am aware that rubber seed oil is a drying oil suitable for use as a substitute for linseed oil, but there are great difficulties in the way of seed collections since there is usually a dense high ground cover on rubber estates. The seed also must be collected fresh and then rapidly dried before it is exported. It is being suggested that a trial consignment of Malayan seed dried on a copra kiln during the forthcoming seed season be shipped here for trial.