COMPANY NEWS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27213, 3 December 1953, Page 14

COMPANY NEWS

Claude Neon (N.Z.). —Final dividend recommendation is 6 per cent., payable December 21, and ex December 11.—(PA.) Hill and Plummer.—An interim dividend of 3 per cent, is now payable.—(P.A.) British Tobacco Profits.—The British Tobacco Company (Aus.), Ltd., earned a net profit of £1,078,472 in the year ended October 31, according to a preliminary statement. This is £1742 higher than the 1950- record, and compares with the 1951- result of £995,204. The company has already announced that the ordinary dividend will be 9 per cent., against 81 per cent, paid last year. The final dividend of 1 per cent, will be paid on January 19, shares becoming ex dividend on December 8. COMPANIES REGISTERED Registration of the following companies is notified in the current issue of the “Mercantile Gazette”:— Steel Fashion Corner, Ltd. Private company, November 18, 25 Riccarton road. Capital: £3OO in £1 shares. Subscribers: Christchurch—F. H. and I. L. Steel 150 each. Objects. Dress designers, costumiers, and incidental. Milton’s (E. A.) Drapery, Ltd. Private company, November 18. Capital: £3OOO in £1 shares. Subscribers: Christchurch —E. A. Milton 2999, W. E. Walkley 1. Objects: ladies’ outfitters, drapers, and incidental. Wood and Cutting Galvanisers, Ltd. Private company, November 23, 201 Moorhouse avenue. Capital: £2OOO in £1 shares. Subscribers: Christchurch—G. K. Cutting 1001, E. G. Wood 999. Objects: galvanisers, sheet-metal workers, and incidental. Willmotts Aerial Topdressing Company, Ltd. Private company, November 24, Royal Arcade, Timaru. Capital: £3050 in £1 shares. Subscribers: Timaru—A. F. Potter 1525, W. R. Willmott 1525. Objects: Aerial topdressing, rabbit poisoning, and incidental. INCREASE OF CAPITAL Struthers and Company (Cheviot), Ltd. Capital increased from £lOOO to £4500.

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT A welcome shipment of Samoan bananas reached the markets this week. The quality is excellent, and the ripened fruit will be on sale next week. Retailers say this will be the last shipment of bananas before Christmas. Oranges are in plentiful supply. Apples and pears arc very scarce. Retail Prices New potatoes, local Is, Nelson 9d; onions, Is 6d per lb; carrots, spring, 9d a bunch; parsnip, 6d per lb; garlic. 2d an ounce; cauliflowers, 8d to Is 6d; spring cabbage, 6d to 8d; spinach, 8d to Is a bunch; spring beet, Is 6d bunch. Lettuces, from 6d each; hothquse tomatoes, 5s to 6s per lb; spring onions (bunch), 6d; radish (bunch), 6d; green peas, 8d and Is 2d per lb; North Island cucumbers. 2s and 2s 6d. Apples, Is and Is 2d per lb; pears, Is to Is 2d; Australian oranges, Is 2d per lb; grapefruit. Is 3d per lb; passion fruit. 8d each; New Zealand lemons. Is 2d per lb; rhubarb, Is and Is 3d bunch; marmalade oranges. Is per lb; asparagus, Is 6d to 2s 6d a bunch; coconuts. Is 6d to 2s each; strawberries (punnet), 5s to 7s; goos°berries, Is 3d per lb; broad beans, 8d per lb; white turnips, 6d bunch: cherries, 4s to 5s 6d. AUSTRALIA’S LONDON LOAN ISSUE HEAVILY UNDERSUBSCRIBED Australia’s conversion loan of £10,796,000 in the London market was disappointing. The underwirters were left with nearly 56 per cent, of it. A London broker said last week the reason for the disappointing result was that most of the maturing stock was held oy the professional element, who were not | interested in a long-term conversion. Holders of the maturing 3J per cent, loan were offered conversion at 4 per cent., redeemable 1966-1968, -at an issue price of 991'2. News of the result was learned on an idle day in the gilt-edged market, which in line with other sections of the Stock Exchange, tailed off. as the week progressed. LONDON METAL MARKETS

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 30. Latest London metal prices are:— Buyer. Seller. Tin— £ s. d. £ s. d. Spot .. .. 640 0 0 645 0 0 Forward .. 627 10 0 630 0 0 Spot .. .. 90 0 0 90 5 0 Forward .. 88 10 0 88 15 0 ZincSpot .. .. 72 15 0 72 17 6 Forward .. 72 15 0 72 17 6 Copper— Spot .. .. 232 0 0 233 0 0 Forward .. 223 10 0 224 0 0