MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1923, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N'.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. A NEW CURRENCY. LONDON, Oct. 15. The Manchester Association of Importers and Exporters has prepared a memorandum for submission to the Imperial Economic Conference, in favour of extending the trade credit facilities of the Empire by means of Empire currency hi! s. which would circulate throughout the Empire, except in India, and would take the place which gold had before the war as the balancing factor for exchanges The memorandum suggests that Empire currency bills would he the most negotiable and mobile security in the world, and would have behind them the combined strength of all the participating countries ill the Empire. Ihe hills could he payable cn maturity in the currency of the participating countries. The Empire would also benefit by a reduction of exchange charges, especially in such a case as Australia’s present need for funds to finance fuither exports.

A BOY COMPOSED. PARIS, Oct. 15. An audience of 2000 at Turcoing heard Rinaldi’s oratoria "Children of John the Baptist.” Rinaldi is only 11 years old. He composed the oratorio when eight. He rehearsed the whole, and conducted the closing passage. The work is Ix-ing enthusiastically received, the musical critics describing it as simple, and lull of entrancing melodies and impressive choruses. They say the final "Gloria’ is a work of high inspiration. Rinaldi’s mother has refused to allow the hoy to tour the United'States, not wishing his boyhood to lie warped liv his musical genius. So far his health is good, and he is developing normally, though he is given fo occasional fits of reverie, in which lie does not seem to he aware of the world that is about him.