COMPANY AFFAIRS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 64, 18 March 1943, Page 1

COMPANY AFFAIRS

KEMPTHORNE, PROSSER DIVIDEND The directors of Kempthorne, Prosser and Co.’s N.Z. Drug Co., Ltd., are recommending a dividend of 44 per cei.i payable on April 10. Transier books wi.l be closed till March 30. HUME PIPE (AUST.), LTD. The directors of Hume Pipe Company (Ai;st.), Limited, have deciueu not to pay an interim dividerfd on ordinary snares. Interim preference diviuend cl 31 per cent, for tne haliyear ended December 31, will be paie on March 31. transier books closing March 22-31 inclusive. No interim dividend was paid last year on ordinary shares but a final distribution ol 24 per cen',. was made. The director's state that total sales lor the hall-year to December 31 were over 12 per cent, luwtr tnan for the corresponding period ci 1941. The company’s factories have been engaged almost entirely on orders for detence requirements. Business which would be avadab!-- Irom municipal councils has been held U[. owing to snortage oi manpower. A furtner shrinkage in sales is indicated for the six-months now cutitnl. The lag between increased cos' of labour and material which has had to be met, and the approval cf the Prices Commissioner to increase selling prices, has materially affected profit; earned during the six months.