§ Mr. GINNELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ascertain the names of the directors of the Erin Assurance and Investment Company, Limited; the amounts of capital authorised, subscribed, and paid up; the amount held by each of the directors; and where the head office is situate?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)It appears from a prospectus which is filed with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies that the 372 directors of the Erin Assurance and Investment Company, Limited, on 15th February, 1912, were R. Mortimer, C. W. Alison, F. England, R. J. L. Fytche, and Lord Norreys, and that the head office of the company was at Effingham House, Arundel Street, Strand. The authorised capital of the company is £60,000. The last annual return filed by the Company, which is made up to 2nd January, 1912, shows that on that date capital to the nominal amount of £1,000 had been subscribed, that £502 5s. had been paid up, and that the nominal amounts of capital held by each of the persons who were then the directors of the company were C W. Alison £100, F. England £115, D. O'Mahoney Leahy £395, and E. O'Mahoney Leahy £100.
§ Mr. GINNELLIn view of this enterprise having adopted a particular name to facilitate its operations in Ireland, will the right hon. Gentleman refuse to allow it to proceed before finding out whether it is or is not sound?
§ Mr. BUXTONI am afraid I cannot possibly guarantee the soundness of this or any company. If my hon. Friend will put to me personally any specific question I shall be glad to answer it. Of course, I have no power except to suggest