5 JULY 1935, Page 42

* A PROSPEROUS UNDERTAKING.

At the recent meeting of Shell Transport and Trading Company, Lord Bearsted, the Chairman, emphasized. -the fact that quite as important as the increase in profits for last year—to which I have previously referred to in. these columns-,--was the increase in the entire turnover. Lord Bearsted said that the increased dividend had led the Directors to consider the payment of an interim dividend next January; though it was too early to make any definite pronouncement. The sums taken by Governments from the profits of the Shell Group in the form of direct duties and Income Tax, the amount last year being no less than £57,700,000 against about £51,800,000 in the previous year. When these huge figures are considered the distribution of £9,000,000 in dividends seems alniost a small' affair. ' Moreover, it has to be remembered that a number of the shareholders have to pay Income Tax and Surtax on their dividends.