22 JUNE 1929, Page 34

SHIPPING PROFITS.

The improvement in the profits of our shipping companies, although by no means sensational, may be described as consistently steady and fairly general. The latest report of Elder Dempster and Company shows that the improvement of a year ago- has been more than maintained, the profits for the year amounting to £547,000 as compared with £525,000. The dividend on the Ordinary shares of 4 per cent. is the same as last year, but 'only £25;000 has been transferred from the Reserve as compared with £50,000 a year ago, while the carry forward of £142,838 is well above the level of last year. The balance sheet shows that the present total of cash amounts to the fairly large sum of £804,261 against £283,611 a year ago.

A. W. K.