Copra

Prices Sag Under World-Wide "Jitters"

AT the moment of this writing (Sep tember 14), copra is down to the lowest levels known since the dismal days of 1934. At these rates, there is only bread and butter in the industry— and not much butter.

These rates mark the climax of weeks of war-scare news, in which every kind of commodity and quoted share has fallen steadily in value. A golden sovereign to day is worth 45/- in Australia —yet every gold company share is depressed. It means simply that speculators are scared stiff, that no man is spending a shilling more than he need, and every merchant is buy ing from hand to mouth.

When it is seen—as soon it will be — that there will be no major war in Europe (any discerning man could have said, month ago, that no Western nation will dare precipitate a conflict that will des troy Western civilisation) there should be a quick return to normal trading, and a sharp improvement in commodity values.

The world cannot go on, indefinitely, suffering .the “jitters”. That way lies re volution and madness.