MONARCHS IN BUSINESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2123, 24 February 1908, Page 3

MONARCHS IN BUSINESS.

TIIE KAISER AS CHIEF OF A PORCELAIN FACTORY.

It is popularly supposed that all industrial “kings” coino irom America, but Europe) can still boast a lew records, and amongst thorn is the production of real, genuine, business monarchy. Fur instance, tho Kaiser is tho propraetor of a most important porcelain factory at Cadinon, and, as might be expected, he does not delegate the duties to others. 'The general conduct ol the establishment, is based on the King’s own rules; lie onguges employees himself and even goes wo far as to design some of the wares sent out from the factory. As befitting one of his rank, His Majesty is a model employer, anil sees to the comforts of bis men, providing them with cottages and pensions, besides giving them a share in the profits, the latter being estimated at £IO,OOO a year. . But tho Kaiser is only one ol many monarclis who have gone into trade. King Peter of Servia, is perhaps, the most, unconventional of them all, lor lie runs a barber’s shop, owns a patent medicine, and conducts a motor-car agency in his capital. The reigning prince of Lieppe-Det-molil deals in butter and eggs, wliilo a prosperous brick factory swells Ivis profits. The King of Wurteinberg is the proprietor of two hotels .in bis kingdom, and they add .610,000 a year to His Majesty’s revenue. The Emperor of Austria owns a chinaware. factory in Vienna, which is one of the most turnons in tho world, and employs over 1000 skilled workmen. The King of Saxony conduets a similar business, though on a smaller scale, but, according to report, trade is increasing, .so His Majesty need not" ‘keep "awake o’ nights” wondering if his travellers aro lit for their jobs. Greatest of Royal tradesmen, however, is the muciPabiised Leopold ol Belgium. One ol the most astute financiers, either in Europe or America, His Majesty quickly saw the possibilities of investing in the Congo rubber trade, and, aided by bis position, lie invested large sums of money and in due course a great tract of most valuable land came under his control. Altogether,'-it is stated, Leopold lias sunk £5,000,000 in tho Congo, and. his profits being something like 20 per cent., it is easy to work out his annual returns. When tilings began, to look gloomy the astute monarch let a few select American millionaires have a finger in the ie, 1 lit John Pierpont Morgan and his fellows got very little out of Leopold, who has a genius for acting the l arts M l King and tradesman at .lie same time, utilizing the prestige ol one to swell his profits as the. other. Queen Carmen S.ylva is the only working journalist amongst the ('.owned head; of Europe. 1 ut Her Majesty has within late veuvs .added a lookseller’s shop to the affairs of her State. This may be -oen in Bucharest, and is the leading shop m the trade. Lately-she lias o; ou?d a bookshop in Paris. The Queen of Portugal has a chemist’s shop in Lisbon, registered in her own name. Unlike the various other businesses enumerated in this article, the Lisbon establishment, in conducted solely in the interests of charity, and, consequently, when the Queen attends to the wants of customers personally —she often makes up prescriptions herself —she is woikitig in a good muse, and need fear no criticism.