The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, June 7th., 1913. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1106, 7 June 1913, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, June 7th., 1913. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Now that the pine trees have been felled in the old cemetery, it is hoped that steps will be taken to beautity the reserve by, planting suitable shrubs therein and putting the fences in order. We believe that the title to the land is held by the wife of a native at Motuiti. In conversation with her one day she stated that she would be prepared tolransfer the land to the burgesses on condition that the Council erect some suitable memorial to her deceased father in the enclosure, towards the cost of which she would also make a liberal donation. The reserve would be a valuable asset to the borough and could be converted at little cost into an attractive and restful beauty spot. We hope the Council will take the matter up at its next meeting.

The Hon. J. Alien, Minister for Finance, Defence and Education, has returned to New Zealand after his visit to England and elsewhere. Speaking at a function held in his honour at Auckland this week, Mr Allen said New Zealand stood higher to-day in the estimation of England and Canada than ever it had done before, and this, he claimed, was the result of the success of the Reform Party, and of opinion in England and Canada as to what it would do in the future. The change of Governr ment was the reason why New Zealand had such a high standard now in London. It cost a great deal to float an inscribed slock loan —one per cent, to the underwriter, % per cent, to the Bank of England, % per cent, to the brokers for finding underwriters, and 12s 6d per cent, as stamp duty to the British Government. All these costs were repeated every time a loan was floated. Two loans which had lately been raised by the late Government cost all those charges, and next year they would cost every penny of them again. The loan which he had himself raised had been obtained at a most unfavourable time, and he claimed no credit for having raised it, except that he had been able to convince those at Home that New Zealand was sound at heart, and was not going to be extravagant, and would not be so in future as it had been in the past. The cost of this loan was loan had been floated in respect to New Zealand for many years. It had been stated that the Dominion would have'to pay 5 s 6d for 50 years. This, however, was not correct, as the Government had the option of paying off the w hole amount at the expiration of 30 years. It was to the country’s advantage to do so.