Description

Papers of Sir John Emmott Barlow 

10/1: Foreign Correspondence 11 January 1923 to 20 December 1923. Comprising:

• letters to A. D. Bell, manager, Barlow and Co., Shanghai, concerning trading conditions for piece and rough goods, forthcoming visit of C. P. Allen, director of Brae and Chingoor Tea Estates Ltd, Bradwall (F. M. S. ) Rubber Estate Ltd and other companies, to India and the Far East;
• letters to F. Doxey, Barlow and Co., Calcutta, concerning general trade conditions, management of Brae, Chingoor and Loongsoong tea estates, better tea prices, looking to raise output through increased manuring;
• letters to D. M. Montgomerie, Barlow and Co., Kuala Lumpur, regarding better prospects for rubber industry at beginning of the year, rising rubber prices and share values of rubber companies, growing criticism from American buyers of the Stevenson Scheme to restrict output, detailed analysis of 1923 General Election, outcome and future political prospects;
• letters to D. Sear, assistant manager, Barlow and Co., Kuala Lumpur, concerning Jin Seng, Torkington and Sungei Krian estates, including negotiations by the latter over purchase of the Somme estate;
• letters to J. S. Thomson, Barlow and Co., Singapore, concerning J. M. Allinson’s visit and attempts to increase volume of piece and rough goods trade, general rise in rubber prices at beginning of year, agreement to act as local agents for the Muar Ayer Itam estate;
• letters to Charles G. Renshaw, manager of the Muar River estate and visiting agent, concerning future prospects for the rubber industry, Stevenson Restriction Scheme, negotiations over purchase of Winmore estate and to retain Inchong estate in private (family) hands;
• letters to John Greig, manager of the Brae tea estate, including acquisition by Brae and Chingoor Tea Estates Ltd., of the Loongsoong tea estate.

10/2: Foreign Correspondence 10 January 1924 to 19 January 1925. Comprising:

• letters to D. M. Montgomerie, manager, Barlow and Co., Kuala Lumpur, concerning low rubber prices for much of 1924 – likely to lead to further restrictions on output, decision to sell rubber directly from Singapore, general management of estates, from October 1924 into 1925 rising rubber prices on London markets, growing demand in Europe and North America, onset of new rubber boom on stock market, flotation of new rubber companies, looking to acquire new rubber properties including the Rao Bahadur estate by the Badek Co., purchase of adjacent Winmore estate by Inchong, others in negotiation, new rubber extensions on Torkington estate;
• letters to J. S. Thomson and his temporary replacement, Harold Rogers, Barlow and Co., Singapore, including impact of Labour Government’s first budget (April 1924), reduced duty on tea, removal of wartime duty on imported motor vehicles likely to reduce price of cars and increase demand for rubber (pneumatic tyres);
• 1925 rubber boom, increasing prosperity in Malaysia – likely knock-on effect on general trading in the region, general trading in piece and rough goods;
• letters to A. D. Bell, manager, Barlow and Co., Shanghai, concerning general trading conditions, local unrest, rioting, state of emergency, boycott of British goods, prospect of civil war, Warlordism;
• letters to F. Doxey, manager, Barlow and Co., Calcutta, concerning management of Brae, Chingoor and Loongsoong tea estates, looking to get in good order, increase crop yields in response to rising prices, general trading conditions for piece and rough goods;
• letters to John Greig, manager of the Brae tea estates, Madulkelle, Ceylon concerning general estate management, improving tea market, expanding output to meet demand;
• letters to Charles G. Renshaw, manager, Muar River estate and visiting agent, concerning Muar River rubber extensions and general estate improvements, Renshaw’s reports on other estates including acquisition of Winmore by Inchong estate;
• letters to W. V. Purser, manager of the Inchong estate.