Holders of Rubber shares must be bewildered and, perhaps —unless
the persistent fall in values has killed the sense of humour—somewhat amused by the sudden change in the winds of opinion blowing across the Atlantic. For a twelve- month now there has been a persistent contention that the Government scheme of restriction of output was useless and that not only had prices slumped in spite of it, but that, what with bud grafting and one thing and another, it was to be a case of an excess of supplies from now onwards. In spite, however, of these paeans of triumph, mingled, curiously enough, with an energetic campaign for the removal of the restriction scheme, the Colonial Office has held firm and now suddenly quite a wail comes across the Atlantic with regard to the prospects of a world shortage. Thus, Mr. William O'Neill, the President of the General Tyre and Rubber Company, declared on the eve of his sailing for Europe that there is to be a world shortage of rubber within the next three "years and that measures taken to increase the production of rubber will not be effective for at least eight years.
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