ROMANCE IN SILK

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 May 1928, Page 11

ROMANCE IN SILK

STORY OF COURTAULDS

DEHIND the sensational distribution of a £12,000,000. bonus by Courtaulds, the famous silk firm,jwhich produced more gambling in shares than the Stock Exchange has known for many years, lies a romance almost without parallel in the annals of commercial enterprise, says the “Weekly Dispatch. The ordinary capital has a market value of approximately £.100,000,000, according to the price at which the shares are quoted, aud this enormous undertaking has 'been built up in the course of a century. To this day the mill which proved to be the foundation o± the fortunes of the firm a hundred years ago is carefully preserved at Braintree, Essex, though long superseded by extensive factories. The name of Courtauld's has been on the lips of' countless people recently, but little is known of the family, eighteen members of which have •hold'ings in the firm of a total value! calculated at £10,000,000. They are of a retiring disposition, and perhaps only the name of Mr Samuel Courtauld is individually familiar to the general public through his generous gift to the nation of £50.000 for the purchase of modern French pictures. i

Mr William Julicn Courtauld, .T.P., of Pennv Pot, Halstead, Essex, who wons flic largest number of shares, is reported to be a triple millionaire. He is the titular head of the Courtauld family, but has never taken any part, in the management of the silk firm. He ‘was intended for a public career, and with this object he received the bulk of the Courtauld shares, but ill-health has severely handicapped him. He has suffered* for years from an affection of the thigh, but in spite of much physical pain he has most bravely continued to carry on his many public duties.

.It is a trait of the Courtauld family that they always make themselves responsible for institutions bounded by their ancestors, and Mr W. J. Courtauld inherits this tendency to a marked _de-o-ree. He takes an interest m politics, and ho has presided at the most important Conservative meeting held m Braintree. Only indifferent health has prevented'him from becoming the local member of Parliament. , Known as tlio one of the I>estr<iressoci men in Essex, Mr Courtauld married his cousin, Miss Constance Cicely Courtauld, whose father, the late Mr George Courtauld, was at one time head of the firm. There are no children of this marriage. Mrs Courtauld greatly assists her husband iu his public work and benefactions. She takes a personal interest in the-affairs of the Braintree Hospital, and is a very capable speaker at 'Conservative women’s meetings. Mr Samuel Courtauld, of 20 Portman Square, is chairman of the directors of the firm which was founded by. his great-grandfather, the original Samuel Courtauld. Mr “Sam’’ Courtauld, as he is known, is the younger brother of Mr W. J. Courtauld, and he received in youth a business training. The affairs of the firm occupy most of his time. His wife, Mrs Elizabeth Courtauld, was active during the war in the interests of wounded soldiers. Mr Samuel A. Courtauld, of The Howe, Halstead, Essex, was for a time chairman of the firim He has taken part in public affairs in Essex, and he gave, at a cost of £25,000, the village hall of Booking, which parish adjoins •Braintree. The firm of Courtauld was not so large during his control, and he made a point of cultivating personal acquaintance with the workpeople, among whom he has always been most popular.