Description

Papers of Sir John Emmott Barlow
11/1: Foreign Correspondence 21 January 1926 to 15 December 1927. Comprising:

• letters to J. S. Thomson, manager, Barlow & Co., Singapore;
• including effects on economy and foreign trade of the General Strike and lengthy coal strike, purchase of Subang estate by Krian plantations, growing Japanese competition with Lancashire cotton goods, deterioration in Singapore market for piece goods, recent slump in price of rubber (Jan 1926) from late boom prices, followed by later recovery (Oct 1926), Singapore agency running at a loss (Dec 1926), lengthy negotiations with Bousteads agency over leasing of Clarke Quay;
• letters to D. M. Montgomerie, manager, Barlow & Co., Kuala Lumpur, including fluctuations in price of rubber following recent boom, negotiations over acquisitions of new rubber properties including Kupang estate by Chersonese (F. M. S.) Estates Ltd, also Badek and Majedie estates looking to acquire Union Kongsi estate, further restrictions on rubber output under Stevenson Scheme, down to 70% (July 1927) and falling, catastrophic floods in Malaya (July 1927), effect on estates;
• letters to Duncumbe Sear, assistant manager, Barlow & Co., Kuala Lumpur including likelihood of recovery in rubber prices (Aug 1927) in near future due to impact of further restrictions;
• letters to A. D. Bell, manager, Barlow & Co., Shanghai, regarding difficult trading conditions resulting from political and military instability, lack of confidence in local markets;
• letters to F. Doxey, manager, Barlow & Co., Calcutta and his temporary replacement, W. T. Cross, concerning attempts to improve trade in cotton piece goods, especially fancy goods, where Indian mills not able to compete with Lancashire, management of Chingoor and Loongsoong tea estates, looking to acquire new tea estate agency business;
• letters to John Greig, manager of the Brae tea estates, Madulkelle, Ceylon, looking to increase cultivation in response to strengthening market for tea, installation of new ropeway on estate to carry tea;
• letters to Charles G. Renshaw, manager, Muar River estate and visiting agent, concerning estate management, rubber extensions at Muar and on the Torkington estate, his resignation due to wife’s ill-health and offer of directorships on return to England (July 1926);
• letters to his replacement, K. H. Mackenzie (1927) concerning recent flood damage and general estate management;
• letters to W. V. Purser, manager, Inchong estate, with particular reference to policy of moderate tapping;
• letter to Reginald Barker, manager of the Torkington estate concerning future estate management.

 

11/2: Foreign Correspondence 12 January 1928 to 13 November 1930. Comprising:

• letters to J. S. Thomson, manager, Barlow & Co., Singapore, including Mr Baldwin’s announcement of abolition of policy of restriction by November 1928;
• letters to D. M. Montgomerie, manager, Barlow & Co., Kuala Lumpur concerning heavy slump in rubber price and share values, uncertainty over government’s policy towards restriction on output, general estate management, onset of the Great Depression – rubber suffering from general slump in world commodity prices (1930), arrangements made to reintroduce measures to restrict output;
• letters to A. D. Bell, manager, Barlow & Co., Shanghai, regarding continuing military and political uncertainty, bad state of Shanghai markets, visit of Sir Richard D. Denman to Far East and scheme to set up a Shanghai electrical supply company, attempts by Lancashire Cotton trade to reduce costs in order to compete with Japanese manufacturer’s in Far Eastern markets, general slump in equity markets (Oct 1929) and onset of the Great Depression;
• letters to F. Doxey, manager, Barlow & Co., Calcutta, including shift into trade in fancy goods, management of Chingoor and Loongsoong estates, bad state of Calcutta markets;
• letters to John Greig, manager of the Brae group of tea estates, Madulkelle, Ceylon;
• letters to K. H. Mackenzie, manager of the Muar River estate.