THE PEPPER CRISIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 108, 16 February 1935, Page 5

THE PEPPER CRISIS.

COMMENT IN LONDON PRESS.

SEARCHING INQUIRY NEEDED.

(United Press Association— Copyright). LONDON, Feb. 14.

Declaring that the crisis in the pepper trade was the result of scandalous gamble, the rami fieatipins of which demand searching inquiry in the interests both of the public and the city s good name, the “Chronicle” declares that behind the facts that liaye thus far emerged lies a background of mystery and rumour which has begun to involve not only leading figures in finance and industry hut others whose responsibilities to tho public are still greater. . , . . The “Economist,” tracing the history of attempts to corner pepper and shellac, points out- that Mr Reginald McKenna; arid 1 Sir Hugo Cunliffe-Owen arc sharehblders; in ‘' the firm of Jnines and Shakespeare; and arh also members of the boards ’of other companies with which James ancl Shakespeare wero eventually associated. The “Economist,” commenting on the relationships, says it may be possible for Mr McKenna and Sir. Hugo CunlirreOwon to dissociate personal interests as investors from their public responsibilities, hut is regrettable that men in such a position of trusteeship have placed themselves in a position in which the market might infer that they had some responsibility for 'events.