"LORD" LEVER'S OPTIMISM

NZ Truth, Issue 692, 21 September 1918, Page 5

"LORD" LEVER'S OPTIMISM

The Fortunes of War Soap Magnate Sets up as Statesman. The cablecrammers have lately told us of a "great speech" by Lord, Lever-, hulme, m whioh he declared himself able to fix a date for the "unconditional surrender" of the Central Powers. This gentleman is the chairman of the board of directors of the well-known soap-making firm of Lever Brothers, a firm that has prospered exceedingly. His name is William Hesketh Lever, and he was "created" a baronet m 1911 and a baron m 1917. About the beginning of this year he Was also made a Lieutenant-Colonel. It does not appear that this was m return for any deeds of "derring do" at the front; for one of the English newspapers which comments upon one of his public utterances refers to him as "our gallant, but domestic soldier." Shortly after he had had this military rank conferred upon him, Lord Lever hulme spoke at the "tank" m Trafalgar Square, and the "Pall Mall Gazette" of March 6 of this year, reported him as saying: "Whatever it may cost us, WE MUST FIGHT ON until we have obtained the unconditional surrender of our opponents." He proceeded to say that the surrender might occur m 1020. Judging by the facts published m the English . press as to the prosperity of Lever Brothers during the war, this calamity does not appear to have "cost" Lord Leverhulme anything, m money at any rate; that is, if we may take the financial condition of the firm, over which he presides as any criterion of what the war has cost Lord Leverhulme. These are facts as recorded m an English. journal:— Lord Leverhulme occupies a position of high responsibility under the British Cabinet m connection with the carrying on of the war. He is a member of the firm of Lever Brothers of the great soap -making concern, which has a record of prosperity that war conditions appear only to have enhanced. Ever since the company's inception m 1894, PROFITS HAVE STEADDLY INCREASED, the expansion m earnings being assisted from time to time by amalgamations with and absorptions of kindred concerns^ The following table shows how profits have grown: 1913— £988,200. 1914— £1,153,100. y 1915— £1,265,900. 1916— £1,354,000. 1917— £1,608,800. ' Profits which are presumably arrived at after payment of, or provision for, excess profits duty, rose last year by £254,000, and the dividend on the ordinary shares is raised from 10 to 15 per cent. Employees get over £60,000 more under the pros-perity-sharing scheme, and allocation funds, etc., are substantially increased. Thus it is clear that Lord Leverhulme's firm has immensely increased its profits during the war; and that, owing to the fact that his ' employees share m the profits under a "profitsharing" scheme the employees had distributed to them last year no less than £60,000 as their share of the profits. In these circumstances, it is very probable that neither Lord Lever- , hulme nor his employees will feel broken-hearted if the war does not end so soon, as 1920, after all. HUMAN- NATURE IS A QUEER THING. Perhaps, too, the optimism and bellicosity of Lord Leverhulme are promoted, to some extent, by the fact that his firm is doing so remarkably well m these sad war times. .