Prox Oce Owx London, Nov. 29. of their shortcomings largely in the limelight, some people contending that youth never has a chance and others pointing out the different ages of many in authority in big undertakings which sometimes range from anything over 60. Mr. Baldwin' caused rather a good deal of comment this week, and in some ceases roused indignation in a speech which last Thursday he delivered in Glasgow efter the Conference of the Scottish Unionist Association.
speaking of British industry, which he said was to-day justify:
itself in the face of all the who is practically 90, and every railway company has men who are far too old. Although Lord Inch-cape thinks he is quite fit for his job, there are other directors equally energetic directors who think they have too much to do. Lord Ahficld, who controls London's greatest! transport combine and is!
rman of 15 other combat deputy chairman of one and dire for of six more thinks he has too much to do. He reniarks, have got to, reduce my_ work.
has boon said that' Tan. the Sone mao in "Leadon, tut I dri] Iiy atrengous fife, Bet dering. the inst few years the demands countries of the world, he stated that this was no time for the incompetent whatever their age. There had battened on joint stock companies large numbers of men connected with management and directors who were—parasitical. The country would never watch with tolerance when hundreds of thousands were being thrown out of work by the rationalization of industry, those who arrogated to: themselves the position of a fi hold, who would not, for the ike of rationalization, remove themselves unless they were bribed to' do s0. Needless to say the Labour: Party at once seized upon the statement and want to know if Mr.
Ballwin intends to take action in los norly they are capable of into tors put all Although you cannot expect to id either many directors committ-suicide or the papers, particu larly the Financials, which are dependent on advertisements, too outspoken abou with which we are all Fy there is some reason to hope that Mr. Baldwin's enunciation, though unpalatable to' a good many people, will have a effect. A director may. any in the prime of regard to such directors or whether it is mere talk on his part, The ages of some of those in authority was recently brought in the House by Sir Hamar Greenwood when he complained of the Judicial Commitree of the Privy Couneit, some members of which were so aged that it appeared to: be difficult for them to see or to) hear the counsel who appeared before them. On looking up the agos of this Committee one notices that the average age of the 27 members is nearly 71. The oldest is Viscount Finlay at 86. Others, over 80 are the Earl of Balfour 80, Lord Atkinson 83, Lord Wrenbury 83, Lord Phillimore 83, and Sir Robert Stout 84. Seven of them are over 70, and eight are over 60.
On the other hand, some of the beat commercial men are quite even if you make allowance wr their fitness. One of them is particularly well known to everybody overseas, vis: Lord Incheape, who is 77 years of age. He usually: arrives at his office at the P. & O. Steam Navigation Company about 8 steloek or before, and often works until late in the evening. insists on clearing up the work before he goes, anid on lea 'a clear desk behind him,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.