CHOICE OF CASES.--Consumers complain justly of the presence of chips, splinters, and wood-dust. It will be evident, therefore, that whatever the type of case employed the interior surfaces should be smooth, there should be no cracks or gaps in the timber, and the cases should be cleaned out before using. There remains great room for improvement in the means and method of packing, and in spite of suggested alternatives we are at present restricted to the use of wooden cases. From comparisons of actual quality and fulfilment of the requirements indicated above, there can be no question that cases made of three-ply wood, such as the "Venesta," are in every respect superior to the ordinary wooden cases of "Momi" type. The consideration of cost and available supplies, of course, enters largely into the question, and three-ply cases are not at present so largely employed as they deserve to be. A new type of case was recently exhibited in Singapore. It emanates from the U.S.A. and is made of a fibrous material, resembling in appearance a very stout cardboard. The complete case when assembled consists really of two boxes, one of which is inverted and slides down over the other. Packing is completed by means of stout wire, which is strained by a simple ratchet arrangement. It is claimed that from 225 to 250 lbs. of rubber can be contained. Other claims made amount to the statement that the case is practically indestructible under normal conditions of handling and shipping. A demonstration given certainly appeared to substantiate the statement fully. Rubber packed in cases of various and average type was allowed to fall from a height of about twenty feet. In all instances the wooden cases of every type were either smashed or badly burst, whereas the fibre cases were merely dented. These cases are obtained in flat sections, which, in assembling, are folded and clamped by means of copper rivets in a special but simple machine. It was pointed out that objection might be lodged against the use of copper for this purpose. More recently there is announced a new packing case which is stated to be made from low-grade rubbers, but information is rather vague. BAGS.--There are in local use stout canvas bags which have the advantage of being used many times, as long as they are waterproof and kept in good dry condition. Their employment for the conveyance of smoked-sheets would appear to be permitted, but crepe rubbers sent in them are often reported upon as being "massed" at the edges, and hence difficult to "sample." BALES.--Attempts to bale rubber for the market have been frequent, but no success seems to have attended the efforts. In some quarters the failure has been ascribed to prejudice on the part of buyers, but it is the opinion of the writers that the objections to baling are, or could be, well-founded. Massed rubber often cannot be inspected properly, and hence is always open to suspicion that internally there may be unsuitable portions.