1 6 



PARA RUBBER. 



Now let us consider what will be the position of the rubber 

 market in 1913 and four following years. Assuming that the 

 supplies of wild rubber will be maintained at a figure equal to 

 that which obtained in 1907, viz., 67,000 tons, that our estimated 

 yield of cultivated rubber be correct, and the annual rate of 

 increase of consumption be 5 per cent., we get the following : 



It will thus be seen that notwithstanding our extremely 

 moderate estimate of yield of cultivated rubber in 1913, the 

 estimated supply is more than 7,000 tons in excess of the 

 estimated demand. Actually this excess is greater, for the wild 

 rubber, which has practically supplied the market up to date, 

 contains from 15 to 20 per cent, more impurities than Para 

 plantation rubber ; or in other words, 20,000 tons of cultivated 

 rubber are equivalent to about 23,530 tons of wild rubber. 

 Unless consumption increases at a greater rate than that which 

 has obtained during recent years, a keen struggle between 

 producers of wild and cultivated rubber is evidently imminent, 

 and a fall in prices will be the inevitable result. It is argued by 



