28 JUNE 1930, Page 46

TIIE IMPERIAL BANKS.*

Thu is a book whichwill chiefly appeal to the student of banking history. The author attempts a rather difficult task fOr 'lie notMerely deals in historical and chronological fashion with the records of Imperial. banks in various parts of the Empire, but he endeavours tnielate some of-the separate problems which have faced banking establishments in the different constituent parts of the British -Empire, and he shows towards the close of his book the growing tendency of London banks, led by Lloyds and. Barclays, to engage in

, (Continued on page 1080.) . ,

"Ths Imp3ria2 Banks. By A. S. J. Baster, B..Com'., B. Sc. (Eco4.)

.•(P. Si King-and Soll,'Ltd.- 13S:--6(1.)' • • • - - - - -

Financial Notes

(Continued from page 1078)

overseas banking through the process of amalgamation or other methods. He considers that the integration movement in Empire banking is explained by the dominance ofLondon in the Imperial financial organization, and he shows how there has been a tendency for the control of Imperial banks to pass into the hands of great English Institutions. The book is ably written, and while it can only appeal to a limited section of the community, those who really wish to study closely the problem of Imperial banks and all that has come out of them in the establishment of banking is it exists to-day in the various parts of the Empire will find few, if any, volumes compare with the one compiled by Mr. Baster.