At the usual weekly meeting of the London County Council,.
held at the County Hall, Spring Gardens, the chairman, Sir- John Hutton, delivered the annual address, reviewing the- five years' work of the Council. In that time the Council had only increased the debt by £1,200,000. "Leaving out of account establishment expenses, the ratepayers only paid last, year a rate of about 101d. in the pound, as compared with 10d., the last rate levied by the Metropolitan Board of Works, and • this, notwithstanding the increased expenditure which has- become necessary owing to the large number of additional parks and open spaces, the increased facilities provided for recreation on open spaces, the strengthening of the Fire Brigade, the purification of sewage, &o." Perhaps the most. interesting thing in the address was the announcement that the Council intended to follow the example of the Paris Municipality, and place their loans within the reach of the emall investor. It is to be hoped that the Council will succeed, for safe stock is urgently wanted for small investors. Why should they not try bonds to bearer with coupons P That is what the small investor really likes. It enables him to satisfy the hoarding instinct—gives him something tangible to hoard —and yet enables him to get interest for his money.