JOHANNESBURG EXHIBITION

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIX, Issue 6262, 31 December 1936, Page 3

JOHANNESBURG EXHIBITION

EX-NEW ZEALANDER'S VIEWS Small Dominion Pavilion ' An ex New Zealander, a school ! teacher residing near Jo?iannesburg', South Africa, makes the following | observations with regard to the Johannesburg Exhibition: — i "Of course I have been to the ex- ' hibition. As the newspapers take about sevently pages to describe it, I ! shall not attempt to give a detailed I account. Besides I have not seen ' a I quarter of it. The empire pavilion showing the progress in transport— land, water and air—was very interesting. On land there were che various stages in motor transport,, from the steam car, in front of which walked a man with a red flag, to the Blue.Bird, Campbell's racing car. In another section in this pavilion we saw the evolution of the train in another the various stages of aviation, from the crude attempts early last century to the latest commercial planes. Before I saw this exhibit I did not know that as early as 1848 there was a steam plane which was capable of going about two hundred yards! In this case the term "hop" we frequehtly hear in connection with flying would be appropriate. Then we are shown progress in shipping, from the Coracle to the majestic Queen Mary. All the models arc perfect in every respect, and after reaching the end of the line, you feel you want to go back and startat the beginning again. - In the test section of this pavilion there is a huge map of the world m plaster of some sort, showing the an' and sea, routes. Along the ocean routes miniature steamers actuailv move from port to port.

Dominion Pavilions

' From the commercial point of view the Canadian pavilion is the best and the New Zealand the worst of those displaying the country's products. When I first entered the Canadian pavilion I thought that certain stalls had been sub-let to local firms. Then I saw that these firms were agents for some Canadian article —a stove, sewing machine, etc. How much better this is than boasting that the. country turns out so many hundred housand tons of steel, if one does not know where to get a reliable Canadian plough. In this respect Canada has stolen a march on the rest. The New Zealand pavilion is very small and I don't think that the average person would learn much more than h'e knew'before he went in. But then I understand that the Government granted such a small sum that the New Zealand representative had not the opportunity of doing the :country justice.

Camp of Bushmen

' We have a camp of 70 bushmen. .About half; of these are true to type. They were brought to the exhibition t by Donald Bain, a man who has lived for years amongst them. They have been taken: on motor trips, tram trips and air trips, but, says Mr Bain, the thing that gives them the biggest thrill is turning on the tap and seeing the water rush out. This • one would appreciate only after spending a lifetime in the waterless Kalahari. They have brought their bows ana arrows, but owing to the restricted area allotted to the canip Bain has taken away their arrows, for these kre poisonous, and one. mere scratch would be fatal. We were disappointed for we had hoped that they would have given a shooting exhibition. They are reputed to be surprisingly quick and accurate. Every fortnight the Morris Car Company present a car to the one giving the nearest estimate of the

number visiting the exhibition during the previous week. You pay Is per estimate. I have had two shots so rar. but r.iv garage is still empty. My estimate the last time was 8i,498; the true figures being 82,15 V". So I heard no more. But my ganablhi;; instincts are aroused. I've bT.'.gnt another form for the current competition."