Trade Boom"

Expected

Probable Effect on Pacific

AT the moment of going to press the commercial outlook for the Pacific territories is reassuring.

The war, contrary to expectations held a few weeks ago, has not dislocated our sea-borne trade and there is free ship ment of goods to all parts of the world.

This will remain the case, so long as Japan and Italy are neutral.

Commodity values are rising rapidly.

On September 14, for example, Sydney trochus shell prices had risen by £4/10/per ton and holders were not selling at £BO. As explained elsewhere, the copra market is nominal, but the undertone is confident —it is believed that as soon as the market is re-established copra will rise sharply.

As soon as war broke out, the value of gold began to rise. This has correspond ingly raised the value of shares of all Islands gold-mining companies.

There is a healthy undertone in other commodities, such as coffee, rubber, etc.

Shrewd judges in Australia anticipate a boom. This belief is reflected in rapidly rising share values on the Stock Ex changes.