21 MAY 1927, Page 34

A PROSPEROUS ENTERPRISE.

It is significant of the high expectations formed nowadays of profits in the big newspaper groups that the shares of Allied Newspapers, Limited, should have fallen somewhat during the past week on the Report. It is true that the profits showed some considerable decline compared with the previous year, but they total £683,000 and the company was able to place a further £1 30,000 to the General Reserve, raising it to £250,000, and to declare a final dividend of 7 per cent. on the Ordinary Shares, making ]2 per cent. for the year. The carry forward is also a little greater than a year ago. Moreover, it must be remembered that, in common with other newspaper enter- prises, the company was hit severely by the general strike and the industrial depression, and the Report states that the whole of the costs involved were charged up to Profit and Loss, and that, but for that fact, there is every reason to believe that profits would have been well maintained.