| Show I v i v 11 I Rubb Rubber r and the Philippines Philippine r By V. V G. G BUNUAN Director Philippine Commis Commission ion of Independence W Washington Office The Tito economic resources of ot the Philippines were stressed by Colonel Carmi Thompson in his farewell message to the tho Filipinos and the American American Amer Amer- ican press in commenting upon it emphasizes the great possibilities for rubber production with witha a view to relieving the American situation Mr Bunuan presents a Filipino view of the ques ques- tion The Tha Filipinos are desirous of helping America j I solve her rubber problem The restriction In our land laws Is applicable to nil all Filipinos Included for tor It from was wag designed to protect our OUI country countr concentration of huge tracts of land In tire Uro hands of a 1 few knowing full well that that country is happiest and most which has its national wealth evenly distributed This policy reflects the conservation era of Americas America's history and was Implanted im implanted implanted Im- Im planted in the Philippines by toy congress Itself when It passed the Philippine organic act of 1902 which contained provisions even more restrictive than toon those In the present law In so far as the Philippines Philippines Philippines Philip Philip- pines are concerned i It Is distinctly American both bothIn In concept concert and id nd application an and n naturally and expectedly ex- ex ped cd I w was heartily embraced by the Filipinos Yet the restrictions ns in our land laws are such uch that devel development o of Our bUr rubber lands of moderate size SIZO holdings Is possible An individual or or a corporation corporation corporation cor cor- ma may under the present law purchase 2500 acres and lease an equal amount for a period of twenty five years subject to renewal for two additional additional additional addi addi- twenty-five twenty years This provision Is neither so restrictive as to make impossible the growing of or rub rubber r of not toO ambitious proportions nor norIO so IO liberal as to convert us Into victims of tion It is What may be be termed a middle ground In this connection the 1 epo of or the committee authorized au au- au by congress to Investigate rubber growing in the Philippines entitled Possibilities for fOl Para Rubber Production in the Philippine Islands says sas The present land laws designed to retain a diffused diffused diffused dif dif- dif dif- fused land ownership do not lend themselves to large capital corporations In rubber lands Nevertheless Nevertheless Never Never- moderate size plantations are possible with foreign capital and moreover the small native e planter pantel might become a a. a producer of Important further supplies That large scale production Is even possible Under under un un- der the present law may be seen from the suggestion suggestion suggestion tion of ot Filipino leaders who are making malting every ef effort effort effort ef- ef fort to aid America In solving her rubber problem that American capital finance corporations to purchase purchase pur pur- cha chase e lands within the limitations of the present sent land laws and in this wa way grow rubber in quantities quantities quantities quan quan- sufficient for the needs of or the tha United States Contract could be entered into between the financIng financing financing ing company and the tha small corporations by which rubber Is to be delivered to the former at the marl market et price or at price specified in the contract Whether or not American capital enters tire Philippines the Filipinos are experimenting In rubber production and will produce great quantities in the next twenty-five twenty years ears It Is here reiterated that only the granting of Independence will finally solve the economic problems problems problems lems of th the Philippines as clearly expressed in a a- resolution adopted by the Philippine legislature which was presented to Colonel Thompson upon his de departure arture from froth Manila We Ve believe that the chief rea reason on why tIre the Ue full material development of the country had not been accomplished d is that we have been denied the powers necessary to shape our economic policies We are firmly convinced that Independence alone will give us these powers power Del Delay Y In granting independence prevents us from flom adopting a policy which would facilitate the comIng coming corning com corn ing Ing of capital from abroad and constrains us to oppose an amendment of or our land laws which would permit vast organizations of or capital securIng securing securing ing unlimited areas of our public lands We Ve likewise likewise likewise like like- wise are opposed to any economic policy which would allow selfish exploitation of our natural resources Such is the stand of the Filipinos on th the rubber rubber rubber rub rub- I ber sincere question question sincere m-sincere sincere desire to help the United States In the solution of her rubber ruber problem without with out at the sam same time t turning ning oV over r. r the te greater r. r portion of their national wealth into te the le hands of absentee I landlords for let it be repeated lest It be forgotten not even Filipinos themselves have this privilege I Copyright ht 1926 1928 Cosmos Newspaper Syndicate Inc A A |
