The Old Refrain

"The year . . . fraught with difficulties so obvious . . . burden of taxation . . . never in our history . . . . shortage of female labour . . . strikes . . . pest infestation . . . unseasonable influences . . . stoppages . . . gas and electricity restrictions . . . never been worse . . . inability to export to the NEI . . . fruit canning . . . must not be sacrificed . . . for . . . wool, wheat, meat, and daily produce . . . Profit ... Record of £52,239 compared with £29,325 for 1944 . . . £34,000 set aside for taxation . . . Dividend 8 per cent . . . and Victory Bonus . . . 2 per cent."—Chairman's address to Brooke's Lemos Ltd. (From "Farrago.")