HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 



85 



I have already denied that Jordan has a 

 Congo track of wild country with herds of ele- 

 phants and valuable beasts therein. Whether this 

 is Jordan's statement or the writer's imagination 

 I leave my readers to decide. Jordan has never 

 pos>essed a live African elephant in his life, and 

 as for a trained one he might have seen one in 

 his various travels, not more. 



This article concludes as follows : — ■ 



' Every zoo. both in Europe and Ameri- 

 ca, is now crying out for animals. They 

 have had no new stock for over four years, 

 and are anxious to fill their depleted cages 

 and paddocks. Then many big cities, both 

 in this country and in America, have declared 

 their intention to establish animal parks. 

 People love wild animals and will always go 

 and see them. I am off myself shortly to 

 the Congo to superintend several shipments 

 and arrange expeditions. It is a business 

 that demands proper organisation and care- 

 ful handling,' a statement with which the 

 writer firmly agreed." 

 Although this was written just twelve months ago 

 Jordan did not go to the Congo to supervise ship- 

 ments, but it is very extraordinary that directly 

 the Official Receiver is appointed he leaves the 

 same week for Cape Town. 



The Company at its inception issued a very 

 highly coloured descriptive list. 



Its first page is devoted to their so called 

 Animal Park which, I presume, is a portion of 

 Hazelmere Park. This, by the way, is Mrs. 

 Leadbetter's property. 



Then we have 



HONORARY DIRECTORS. 



I respect these two noblemen so much that I 

 Hvill not mention their names, but when the 

 enquiry r.'ikes place, they should certainly mention 

 who inveigled them into this scheme. Without 

 their names on the prospectus many a young 

 officer would have saved his lot. 



THE ORIGINAL DIRECTORS 

 were J. A. Jordan, R. Leadbetter, Major J. Sea- 

 field Grant, Brig.-General R. Pigot and H. E. 

 Osborne, and now, so far as I can find out, there 

 are none. 



GAME RESERVES 

 are thei mentioned. They never had ONE. 

 REGISTERED OFFICES, 



30/1, St Swithin's Lane, E.C.4. 



EXHIBITION DEPOT, 



Hazlemere Park, Bucks. 



Regarding their offices, the rent of which I 

 am told is £1,200 yearly. 



Their Exhibition Park at £1,000 yearly. 



Was there ever such a disgraceful waste of 

 money ? 



I am told Jordan received £1,000 yearly and 

 the other Directors about £250 each. 



Might I ask in all seriousness, Whatever for? 

 Here is a standing expense of £4,000 yearly with 

 no busiiness done. 



In my opnion the whole of this money should 

 be recovered and distributed to their unfortunate 

 dupes, in other words, their trappers. 



WHAT HAS THIS COMPANY DONE? 



It has brought discredit on the animal busi- 

 ness in general, and ruined the trade for years. 

 From Greenland's icy mountains to India's coral 

 strand the pamphlet of this Company has been 

 distributed. Even in Liberia where animals were 

 reasonably cheap, the inflated prices of this Com- 

 pany are found. They have the audacity to ask 

 in the bush £500 for a Hippo, and £200 each for 

 Antelopes. 



It will be years before prices resume normal. 

 Here is an item taken from the "National News," 

 January 19th, 1919 : 



"The Company has £45,000 worth of 

 rare wjild animals and birds on its West 

 African reserve alone, but so great is the 

 demand, largely through losses owing to food 

 difficulties during the war and no renewal 

 of the stocks, that there are orders for 

 £40,000 worth for American gardens alone, 

 another £210,000 worth for the British Zoos, 

 and a similar demand for Continental parks." 

 The Official Receiver should make every enquiry 

 concerning this statement. The author should 

 be held responsible for such a wicked series of 

 lies. The one and only importation which was 

 secured quite byjaccident was not a financial suc- 

 cess, taking the usual expenses into account. 



I am told that some stock is still 

 at Hazlemere Park. This could have been 

 sold last year, but is kept there eating 

 their heads off and I presume incurring rentage. 

 This small consignment should have been sold 

 on arrival, thereby saving the ridiculous charge 

 of £1,000 yearly. 



The Company's original list of stock, offered 

 for sale, include nearly every living creature on 

 the earth. 



Once more it would be interesting to know 

 who compiled this. 



It is produced in a wonderful manner. Cer- 

 tainly not by anyone connected with the Com- 

 pany. The Compiler should have known better. 

 It must have deceived many unfortunates. 



In conclusion, I trust all those who have 

 invested a. penny piece in this undertaking to 



