During the past decade, in which so many disturbing events have occurred, the deposits have increased by no less than £527,000,000, or 27 per cent, to a total of £3,441,000,000, while the ratio of quick assets has risen from 36 to 36.6 per cent, la amount from £690,000,000 to £893,000,000. Among the remaining important assets investments have displayed a marked change, having expanded from £269,000,000 to £609,- 000000. On the other hand, advances have not quite fully recovered to the peak level of 10 years ago, when trade was active. To bring the comparison to nearer times, it will be seen that within the past' year deposits have increased by £170,000,000, which has more than made up for the withdrawal of foreign balances effected during 1938, while over the second half of last year the growth was of somewhat greater extent.
These remarks similarly apply to the first four of the groups of assets, the principal gains during the 12 months having been more marked in the second half, with the result that quick assets, which represented 322 per cent. of deposits just over a year ago and were down to 31.4 per cent. six months later, were at the close in of 1939 of the proportion of 36.6. The have been evolved by scientists. These are non-alkaloid end have a high content of protein and fat.
Such ambitious efforts to achieve greater self-sufficiency should inspire us to prove again our mettle on the food front, even though we proceed on more orthodox lines.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.