MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1923, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. DOMINION LOANS. LONDON, Junp 17. The “Times” City editor, referring to the disposition of some quarters to suggest that Britain might further cheapen the cost of dominion borrowing on the London market, says:—lt is advisable these days, when the temptation to spend money is greater than in pre-war times, that the obligations, as well as the advantages of the Colonial Stock Act. should not be overlooked. It is true that the responsibility for the capital and interest of colonial trustee securities lies exclusively with the borrower, but, should a default- ever occur, it would undoubtedly raise awkward questions. In view of the fact that- by virtue of the Colonial Stock Act. the capital of the colonies is obtainable on the most favourable terms, very strong reasons would have to ho forthcoming to justify further additions to the burdens of the English taxpayer. which are already greater than those of the dominions.

RUSSIAN DIAMONDS. LONDON, June 17

The “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent states: M. Krestinski. the Bolshevik Ambassador in Berlin has a sale in his Embassy in tho’Unter Den Linden, containing thirty pounds weight- of diamonds of large size and of the finest water, which have been Brought from Russia since the beginning of the year, by diplomatic courier.-. lie is charged with the task of selling these diamonds, which arc now being classified and valued. Some of the jewels are of extraordinary sizq. They undoubtedly belonged to the murdered Imperial family. An American is in treaty for tile gems, hut the very heavy American import duty on jewels is a bar, though there are Bolshevik agents now organising a seheino to smuggle some of the- gems into the United" States by way of Canada. There are ten times as many more jewels still remaining in Moscow, where a special guard watches the diamonds m tho Kremlin, ns the treasure forms an easily transportable, reserve, which would be available in the event of the Bolshevik leaders having to fly hurriedly. This enormous concentration of diamonds alarms the professional dealers, who say that it would take tho market ten years to absorb .such a quantity of big gems. The leading dealers therefore, are trying to organise a world boycott against the Bolsheviks’ diamond dealers.

PERSIAN GOVERNMENT. DELHI, June 13. The Persian Government has again resigned. A difficulty is anticipated in finding anyone willing to accept the Premiership. AFRICAN RAILWAYMEN. CAPETOWN, June 15 The Union Assembly passed a Bill to condone tho break in the service of those raihvaymen who went on .strike in the Rand upheaval last year. Tho Minister of Railways slated that out of (5000 employees, only -112 went out. The Labour members expressed appreciation of the Minister’s action. FOREIGN MISSIONS. LONDON. June 18. The sum of £9.594.000 was last year contributed towards the Protestant Foreign Missions, of which the United States and Canada, provided £6.327.000; Britain £2.310,000 : Sweden £280,009. Australia £172,000.