Another firm which has apparently benefited by the war is Ruston, Proctor & Co., the well-known Lincoln manufacturers of agricultural implements. A final dividend of 5-1/2 per cent is declared, plus a bonus of 2 per cent, making 10 per cent for the year, which still allows the Company to place L45,000 to reserve and to carry over L16,300. This dividend is 3 per cent more than was paid last year, and is the highest in the twenty-six years' history of the Company. Shipping shares remain firm, and it is almost impossible to purchase any of the best shares. As an illustration of the profits that are being made, the Nitrate Producers' Steamship Company's accounts for the year ended April 30th last show a gross profit of L404,022, as compared with L151,905 and L135,986 in 1914 and 1913 respectively. The dividend is 25 per cent, free of income tax, L100,000 is placed to reserve, L200,000 to a special fund for excess profits tax, income tax, etc., L30,000 is added to the insurance fund, and the carry forward is increased by some L7000. The Company owned a fleet of ten steamers, which has, however, been reduced to five by the sinking of one last September by an enemy submarine and by the sale of four vessels. A new vessel is under construction, and should be ready for delivery in August. The capital of the Company consists of L200,000 in Ordinary Shares and L200,000 in 5 per cent Cumulative Preference Shares. 10. _The New Witness_, June 15, 1916: WAR PROFITS AND THE GOVERNMENT It is essential that a determined effort should be made to rouse the nation to a sense of the gross and scandalous injustice of the huge profits that are at present being "earned" by certain firms piling up wealth which is really amazing to contemplate. This is not mere empty rhetoric; the figures support the description up to the hilt. Let us take the case of five well-known companies, all engaged in "war work," and see to what account they have turned our soldiers' sacrifices:-- FIRMS. PROFITS. 1913 1914 1915 L L L Cammell, Laird 171,700 235,500 301,500 Curtis & Harvey 48,100 77,800 143,800 Projectile 14,000 40,400 192,700 Webley & Scott 9,500 16,400 61,300 Thornycroft 13,000 107,640 267,333 (6 mos.)