18 MAY 1929, Page 38

HARLAIgb AND, WOLFF. _ Quite apart from the standpoint of

shareholders, the progress of the great firm of Harland and Wolff is something in which it might be said that there is a national interest. It is good, therefore, to note that at the recent annual Meeting the'. chairman, Lord Kylsant, was able to state that his hopeful prediction a year ago had been fulfilled. The company was able for the year to pay the dividend on the First Preference shares, and; after providing for wear and tear of plant and machinery, the directors were able to carry forward the substantial amount of 1107,558, while the reserve remains at the high total of 11,000,000. The Ordinary capital still goes without a dividend, but the company has come through a period of exceptionally severe and prolonged depression in shipbuilding, and throughout this period it has furnished employment for a vast number of men. At the present time, indeed, the whole of the company's operations mvolve the employment of something like forty thousand of -the population, and Lord Kylsant stated that with the exception of the Greenock shipyard, which is temporarily• closed, the establislurients at Belfast and on the Clyde have been and are fairly writ occupied with work. Lord Kylsant was also able to 'speal: hopefully with regard to the ultimate full recovery of 'British shipbuilding.