EMPIRE BANKING.
Considerable interest attaches to the second Report of Barclays Bank (Dominion, Colonial and Overseas), as that institution, is now concerned with activities in various parts Of the British Empire, having acquired the Colonial Bank, the National Bank of South Africa and the Anglo-Egyptian Bank. The Report which covers the year ending September 30th last is a good one, but precise comparison with the figures of the previous year is impossible because the previous Report covered a period of about eighteen months. When allowance is made for that fact, the profits show a small increase, while evidence of increased activity of business is shown, both in the increase in Note Circulation and the Acceptances. Quite the outstanding feature, however, of the Report is the evidence which it affords of conservative management resulting in the production of a strong balance-sheet. A small increase has taken place in the final dividend, but the increase is also accompanied by an addition to the Reserve Fund of £1 50,000, as compared with only £100,000 a year ago, while the carry forward of £122,479 also shows an appreciable increase. Very little is said in the Report with regard to the economic con- ditions in the countries where the bank's operations are carried on and, therefore, the forthcoming meeting, to be held on
the 19th proximo, is looked. forward to with considerable interest, as the Chairman will doubtless deal with such matters with the thoroughness with which he always deals with the situation at home on the occasions of the annual meetings of Barclays Bank.
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