History

29 Dec 1957

29 December 1957: Edith Belcher followed a conversation about dishonesty in companies and was proud of the way her husband handled the matter.

29 December 1957: Edith Belcher followed a conversation about dishonesty in companies and was proud of the way her husband handled the matter.

“Toby got taken aside by a young Greek just returned from Dublin University. He knew all about Scottish nationalism. He knew all that mob. Very interesting young man but he gave Toby hell regarding Cyprus Mines Company. The same line as Smainis had given him the week before; that is, that Cyprus Mines Company was taking everything out of the island and putting nothing back in, and they had better be careful and turn over a new leaf. Of course, should this island go Greek, they’d be expropriated anyway.

Toby said to this young man that perhaps Cyprus Mines Company felt that by paying 60% tax on the island they were putting enough back in, and besides, they kept only one set of books which were known about, unlike some companies that keep two. Very good point my brilliant husband made. He said he did not realise until after he had said this that the other man with them was from the Hellenic Mines. When I asked Toby what the Hellenic fellow answered to this, he said he just smiled and said nothing. This two-book racket is common practice, and certainly not applicable to this island alone.”

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