LOWENSTEIN VISITS LONDON BY ’PLANE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18008, 19 November 1926, Page 6

LOWENSTEIN VISITS LONDON BY ’PLANE

BRINGS SECRETARIES WITH HIM BY AIR. (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON - , September 16. Captain Alfred Loe wen stein, the Belgigan millionaire banker whose ambition it is to stabilise the French and Belgians francs, descended upon London yesterday in characteristic fashion. An aeroplane brought him and seven secretaries from Paris. While his machine was yet in the air a fleet of Dailmer cars was waiting below. More secretaries stood by waiting for words of command. Landing formalities were soon over, and the high-powered cars est out posthaste for London. Some made for the West-end. but th eone containing Captain Loewenstein. a homely figure in light grey with brown boots and a straw hat. went straight into the heart of the City. In Regal Suite. Nothing more was seen of the banker for some hours he was completely immersed in business. Then he motored to the Ritz Hotel, where already several of his staff were hard at work. Captain Loewensteiii occupies a regal suite, comparable only to the one occupied by King Alfonso when he stays in town, and in addition to this a considerable slice of the Ritg is reserved for him£ On the fifth floor, for instance, a suite has been converted into offices. Rooms, with windows overlooking Mayfair, are set out with tables, on which are typewriters. In each room secretaries and their assistants sit handling masses of documents and papers that are part and parcel of the great Loewenstein efficiency machine. Quiet Industry. When I called at the hotel, last night (writes a “Daily Chronicle” representative), office work was being carried out with that quiet industry which is so impressive. Captain Loewenstein was in his own room absorbed in detail following his visit to the City. This flying visit to London—for such it literally is—will probably end tomorrow or Saturday, when the millionaire banker and his secretaries will again take to the air and depart for the Continent. “Captain Loewenstein’s visit is not connected in any way with the franc.” I wa stold by a member of the staff. “He is so busy at present that it will not be possible for him to visit Leicestershire, as he usually does at this time of the year.” Hunting Shire Disappointed. The absence of the magntae from the hunting shire will cause great disappointment to the people of Melton Mowbray, where he is the squire of Thrope Satchville. When he can tear himself away from his innumerable interests Captain Loewenstein is at his happiest when in the saddle with the Quorn or when superintending his stock farm. Talking with one of the secretaries our talk drifted to Captain Loewenstein’s intrest in the great hydro-elec-tric generating station in the Pyrenees. This is the largest concern of its kind in Europe, and special lakes have been constructed in the mountains to supply the water power. It is planned to build five aerodromes ata the power stations and lakes, and to run a small fleet of air runabouts to enable engineers and workmen to be transported to any point of the great system in & minimum of time. My infromant pointed out that owing to the inaccessibility of the lakes and stations, the establishment of such an air service was a sound economic proposition, and it was to demonstrate this that Captain Loewenstein took his aeroplane there some days ago. “He did not go to make himself a nine-day's wonder,” said this secretary. “In fact. Captain Loewenstein has been extremely annoyed at the publicity which his visit aroused. lie does not like pubiiicty in any shape or form.” Aeroplane Damaged. While on his way to London, Captain Loewenstein met with a mishap, which hasfi however, in no way diminished his enthusiasm for air travel. lie set out from Barcelona to Paris in one of his own air-liners, but when near Le Bourget it was necessary to make a forced, landing.

The machine was badly damaged, but, luckily, both Captain Lo«w«nstein and his English pilot were unhurt. The night was spent in Paris, and the journey to Croydon completed yesterday in one of the Imperial Airways’ planes, the aerodrome being reached at 3.15. Although his present stay in town is so short.. Captain Loewenstein has much business to transact before he again takes to the air to look after his vast interests on the Continent.