21 OCTOBER 1922, Page 48

Evidence of the high esteem in which Lord Inchcape is

held by financial circles was afforded by the influential gathering which assembled in his honour on Monday evening to wish him God-speed on the eve of his departure for India. On many occasions I haVe referred to the good services which Lord Inchcape has done for the cause of economy. in his fearless attack upon all forms of waste in the National expenditure, while I think that even more valuable has been his leadership in the fight against the extension of bureaucratic activities on the part of the Government and all kinds of State interference with private enterprises. It was undoubtedly the unani- mous recognition of these great attributes of Lord Inchcape, as well as of his many sterling personal qualities, which evoked from the guests at Monday's banquet expressions of affection and esteem. These must have been particularly stimulating to him at a moment when he is undertaking a mission to India the importance of which was admirably emphasized in a brief, but admirable, speech by Mr. Wickham Steed. A. W. K.