DUCAL BUSINESS METHODS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 5

DUCAL BUSINESS METHODS.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE AND THB „ GOKKINGE CASK ' .'_■ . ~ .;..:._ In his Limehouse speech, Mr. Iloyd. George referred to the famous Gorringt. case, and attracted much attention.'; Th». "Times" ventured to question " the - ac*" curacy of the figures given by the Chan* cellor. On the following day a letter appeared in the "Times," from Mr. Lloyd George, re-stating the particulars on the: authority of the Gorringe Company , * "papers as filed, at Somerset Honse. This letter finally silenced all question as to. the accuracy of the Chancellor's state* ments. The particulars as given in hit letter were as follows:-— "Up till the year 1903 the Duke ol Westminster had been. receiving - on" ground rents from the Gorringe premise!-, a total sum -which did not exceed £350 per annum. The new arrangements cam* prised— ....... . (1) A new ground rent of £4000 per ■'■ annum for the site of the old premises;- - (2) A separate ground rent of. £120(1" per annum for the site of four additional, buildings; (3) A cash fine of £50,000 in respect of the whole transaction;' t And (4) an undertaking to remodd" part of the premises at a further costol : £50,000. The tenant had built up-a-great business there; he could not take it away; he could not move to other premises because his trade and goodwill were there;he had no alternative but to accept the terms. If the Budget tax, which willtake for public purposes one-tenth of the toll exacted by the Duke, is, as'.iti" opponents say, spoliation and robbery, what is to be said of the Duke taking the other nine-tenths, no part of which had been created by his effort or expenditure, but the whole of which had been: created by the joint exertions and penditure of the tenant and the com*"'• munity at large t