The Pepper King Will Retire to Farm

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 289, 7 December 1936, Page 8

The Pepper King Will Retire to Farm

PRISON TERM NEARLY ENDED LONDON, Nov. 14. Mr Garabed Bishirgian, Armenianborn financier, imprisoned at Wandsworth after last February’s pepper trial, is expected by villagers at Ockley, in Surrey, to renounce the city and become a farmer. They are expecting his release from prison any day. His 700acro farm, which adjoins his Tudor house, has been prepared for his return. At week-ends before the pepper crash he lavished his money and spare time on making the farm one of the most efficient and up-to-date in the country. There has been great activity there in the last few weeks. Rows of new brick cowsheds and piggeries have been whitewashed. The whole farm has been tidied up; even the roads have been swept clear of leaves and the hedges trimmed. During the four years Mr Bishirgian has owned the estate he has acquired 200 cattle and 600 pigs, built modern cowsheas and piggeries and installed automatic milkers for his dairy herd. A villager who knows Sr Bishirgian well said this week: "Ho once told me that he would like to settle down on the farm. At week-ends he often used to help with the work, supervising the pig-feeding and the automatic milking. He is interested in all the details of farming.' Wo villagers would like him to stay. He is popular here. When the crash came he told the tradesmen to send in their bills and paid them all off before ho went away.” Mr Bishirgian is a bachelor. There will be nobody to greet him here on. his return except his employees.