CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 320

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REPORT ON MELCHERS AND COMPANY. HONGKONG. 314

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The total profits for the whole business during

the last four years were: -

8.124,000

71,000

1910

1911

1912

79,000

1913

57,000

!

The Capital for the Hongkong branch stood at

8.600,000 until 1912 when it was reduced to 8.300,000.

I understand that this reduction was connected with the

transfer of the head office to Shanghai in that year.

This is however not clear as all profits since 1910 were

annually transferred to Shanghai.

The Company held the agency for the Nord Deutsche

Lloyd which produced an average commission during the

years 1910-1914 of about 8.50,000. They are agents also

for the Germanische Lloyd and other small companies. As

agents for the Nord Deutsche Lloyd they received 5% on

cargo to direct ports, 3% for transhipment cargo and 5%

on passages with the exception of those booked through

Cook's on which they received 2% only.

They