THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF THE COCONUT 9 



products. During the past four or five years 

 the planters, traders and merchants engaged 

 in the industry have fully realised its constantly- 

 developing possibilities, but its importance in 

 financial circles has yet to be recognised. There 

 are excellent reasons, however, for concluding that 

 this recognition will not be long delayed. Many 

 well-informed authorities consider that a boom is 

 probable in the shares of coconut companies ; 

 but, apart from that prediction, there is no doubt 

 that among the leaders of the industry in the City 

 there has been considerable, if quiet, activity which 

 is likely to result in very important developments^ 

 in the near future. Even without a boom, which 

 is not an altogether unmixed blessing, the enormous 

 demand that has arisen for coconut products 

 cannot possibly fail to create marked activity 

 throughout the industry, especially in the financial 

 department. 



The present position of the industry is un- 

 questionably favourable. Its future stability and 

 financial possibilities are amply demonstrated by 

 statistics embodied in the ensuing pages ; these 

 statistics have been compiled with the greatest 

 care and revised by recognised authorities. It 

 may, however, be pointed out, here and now, 

 that everything is in favour of the coming 

 financial development. At the present moment 

 the majority of the coconut estates of the world 



