HUN PROFITEERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 158, 23 March 1918, Page 7

HUN PROFITEERS

KR-UPPS DO WELL OUT OF WAR.

Tirpitz's Fatherland Party having assayed the "Frankfort, Gazette" for asserting that the German steel and iron industry (consisting of the Krupps and their fellow war-mongers) is "nlaking a good tiling out of the war," the principal commercial organ retorts with some crushing statistics. These show that 37 works with a combined capital of £83,000,000 made during the past year 75 per cent, more than they earned in the year 1913-14 —that is, in round figures, £17,500,000, as against £10,500,000. The same concerns increased their dividends on the average from 8.2 per cent, to 13.9 per cent, though some of them doubled their dividends. ' In the two years last reported these 37 companies mado sucli large profits that they could afford to write off an amount equivalent to 40 per cent, df their entire share capital. The "Frankfort Gazette" says: "We see that business is flourishing. It is flourishing just now,' probably, more than ever, because the \\ ar Office is paying the large works (not the small ones) pricos which deserve the closest attention of the Treasury Department." . As evidence of the far-reaching plans of Hun industry for the future, ii> may be mentioned that tlio well-known Mannesman firm of Westphalia is aboutto increase its capital from £700,000 to £4,300,000 to acquire new mines and works.