12 APRIL 1940, Page 30

The City of London Livery Companies. By Bryan Pontifex. (Methuen.

6s.) The City of London Livery Companies. By Bryan Pontifex. (Methuen. 6s.)

As a history of the London Guilds this little book needs revision. But as a summary view of their present condition it is distinctly useful. The author, as a past master of the Armourers and a member of council of the City and Guilds of London Institute, gives particulars of the services rendered by the companies to secondary and technical education that will surprise most readers. Mr. Pontifex says that there are now 78 companies with 9,716 liverymen. The largest is the Stationers' and Newspaper Makers' Company, thanks to its admission a few years ago of many journalists—a fact that the author does not trouble to mention.