FACTS FOR INVESTORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 230, 28 September 1936, Page 4

FACTS FOR INVESTORS.

TYPICAL PORTFOLIO. WERE'S INVESTMENT TRUST. Mr. Staniforth Rickettson, chairman of Were's Investment Trust, Melbourne, at the recent annual meeting of that company gave a classification of the investments contained in the company's portfolio. Those in the British Empire were of the total value of £594,705 aiud were spread as follows: — Per cent. Government and municipal bonds 5.3 Public itfilities - 11.3 Banks, insurance, finance..,;.. 19.3 Pastoral and development ..... 6.4 KuW>«r and other plantations .. 0.9 Base metals ........ . 7-7 Gold mines ... i........ 2.5 Other mining 6.7 Iron and steel, engineering .... 2.9 Chemicals and food 12.5 Building and construction 5.§ Stores .....' 11-5 Paper and publishing 2.2 Miscellaneous 0.2 The total value of these securities was given as £594,705. Those held in foreign countries were of the total value of £30,493, and included manufacturing industries in Holland, Sweden and the United States; public utilities, banks and insurance companies, mines and metal companies, manufactures and wholesale and retail stores. COMMERCIAL BANK SHARES. . 1 At the last annual meeting the chairman of the Commercial Bank of Australia, replying to the question when shareholders would receive higher dividends, said the directors realised the returns were low and v.-ere .prepared to distribute a Treasonable amount of what was earned, but 110 dividend could be paid until it was earned. Net profit last year, after writing off £25.000 for depreciation of premises, totalled £209,480, of which £210,360 was paid in dividends. STet assets at balancing time were 21/9 per 10/ ordinary share fully paid. MORTSI DOCK. Morts Dock profits last year at £19,600 were more than double those earned; in the previous year, and the company returned to the dividend list with a distribution of 3 per cent. At the annual meeting the chairman stated that several important contracts were in hand, and the directors were hopeful of being able to increase the dividend from time to time. Net assets at last balancing were .22/3 per £1 share fully paid.