WOMAN FINANCIER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16506, 25 November 1927, Page 7

WOMAN FINANCIER

HOUSTON DEATH DUTIES RAISING THE MONEY (Australian und N.Z. Cable Association.! LONDON, Nov. 24. The Evening Standard states that it is reported on the Stock Exchange that Lady Houston, in order to provide ready money to meet the Exchequer payment, sold 250,000 Courtauld shares at £7. Each deal was so cleverly conducted that it has not affected quotations. ''lntuition is superior to all knowledge," said Lady Houston, in explaining her visits to the Treasury to discuss the payment of her gift of grace to the nation. "It comes from God. Intuition is the secret of all my success in life. It caused me to visit Mr. Winston Churchill, despito the pleas of well-known lawyers. The gift is a I beau geste' in commemoration of my husband. Many may ridicule me, but the only way is to judge by results.", "Lady Houston last month visited the Treasury at night, and at a secret meeting discussed with the Chancellor rlf the Exchequer, Mr. Winston Churchill, and tho Attorney-General, Sir Douglas Hogg, her voluntary offer to pay tho death duties (estimated at £3,000,000) on her husband's estate. Lady Houston married the shipping magnate, Sir Robert Houston, when-he was 71 years old, and at his death roiired to the Channel Islands, thus avoiding payment of death duties. A public outcry arose, and Lady llous-,. ton offered the sum voluntarily to the nation