W. R. Carpenter

How Big Firm is Weathering Storms of War

SIR Walter Carpenter, head of the big Pacific trading and shipping firm of that name, is at present paying a visit to Sydney, after three years’ resi dence in Canada. He is accompanied by Lady Carpenter.

Sir Walter, with the shrewdness and foresight which built the great group of companies he directs, saw what was likely to happen in the Pacific soon after the outbreak of war in Europe; and so he personally extended his group’s opera tions to Canada, where copra-milling was entered upon in a big way. As a result, when WRC & Co. lost heavily on the swings, through the Jap invasion of the Pacific, they began to gain substan tially on the roundabouts, established in Canada.

Despite the invasion, W. R. Carpenter & Co., Ltd., made the substantial net profit of £65,873 in the year ended June 30 last: and this has been disposed of in a 5% dividend, and the transfer of £25,000. to a Contingency Fund. The Co. has not yet resumed trading in New Guinea, the Solomons or the Gilberts, but its subsidiaries are doing well. The Fiji Co. paid 12i%, and South Pacific Insurance 7%.

Directors are Sir Walter Carpenter (chairman), R. B. Carpenter (deputy chairman). C. H. Carpenter. Sir Henry Braddon, D. J. Brownhill and W. S.

Bennett.

Issued capital is £775,000; and to this are added £200.000 of general reserve and well over £lOO,OOO remaining in P. & L.

Account. Shares are at a large premium on the controlled sharemarkets.