N.Z. IN SCOTLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 128, 2 June 1938, Page 15

N.Z. IN SCOTLAND.

A MEDIOCRE DISPLAY.

POOR EXHIBITION SENSE.

LESSON FROM OTHER

DOMINIONS.

(By W.M.—By Air Mall.)

(Copyright.) The New Zealand Pavilion at the Empire' Exhibition at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, is probably the least expansive of the Dominion pavilions: and it has no outstanding feature of interest, such as Australia's model of Sydney harbour bridge; or Canada's huge map set in a sea of plated metal; or even Ireland's clever moving diagram of what she exports to and imports from the United Kingdom, and her local industries. But New Zealand is pleasantly represented, and if more had been made of her meat and wool and butter exports, as well as her apples and scenery and sporting facilities, and a little less of passion fruit and not very attractive bottled and tinned goods—and if the name of the Dominion had been . more prominently displayed on the pavilion, a wandering Xew Zealander would have been better pleased.

Good Diorama. The best and most interesting exhibit was the diorama of New Zealand scenery shown by the Railway Department. It moved! It told a good story to interested audiences. The "wandering critic" suggested a prominent display of the proportion of the New Zealand population that is white and British, as casual comment overheard showed that visitors to the pavilion seemed to imagine the population of New Zealand to be mostly Maoris. This seems especially desirable at a time when the Scottish papers are all full of paragraphs of complaint from Farmers' Unions against imports of meat, etc., from the Dominions to the detriment of the British, and especially Scottish, producer; little realising that their own cousins overseas are earning a living in the Empire.

Ctiticism Too Easy. It is easy, however, to be critical; one might comment upon seven out of twelve tins of a well-known brand of New Zealand meat having their labels not on straight. A large marlin hangs on a blank wall by the tail, with not a word of description near it —nothing to say what it is, how or where it was caught, nor why it is exhibited. Four New Zealand rugs were hung up (with the labels carefully wrapped inside them), and not a word to say where they were made, the name of the factory, the wool they were made from, nor their qualities.

A look into the Hall of British Industry gives one points on good exhibiting at every stand. Someone should be specially appointed by the organisers of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition to go round the Glasgow Empire Exhibition and note every good and attractive idea and . display; there are lessons galore to be learned which would be priceless to New Zealand's exhibition.

Wool Was to Fore. § Onc of the most striking of the smaller pavilions was tha't of the International Wool Committee. Massive pylons are the order of the day, but this one is surmounted by an enormous golden ram which can be seen from all points. Mr. Arthur, the secretary (recently appointed from Xew Zealand), and his chairman, Dr. Ross, arc to be congratulated on a most striking pavilion and display of the uses to which wool can be adapted.

The preview of a charming bridal party (with every stitch of their wearing apparel of wool) held in London at South Africa House before a crowded audience of Pressmen and women last week, was brilliant in its idea and execution, and should be useful.

Welcome to King. And the welcome to-day in Glasgow to the King and Queen by the hundreds of thousands who lined the route of their triumphal progress in an open carriage, drawn by six greys, and also by the 80.000 who thronged the Ibrox Stadium, was thoroughly British.

The King opened the exhibition in a good speech, with a strong and firm voice, and he only 'stumbled twice and quickly recovered. The Queen was gracious and obviously happy. Women will like to know that she wore a pale dove grey gown and matching coat of silk crepe with bands of grey fox fur round the hemlines. Her Majesy's hat was of grey straw with the brim dipping over the right eye and tilted upward on the left side with a small tuft of grey feathers on the underside. She wore a double rope of pearls and a spray of lilies of the valley, with grey crepe de chine shoes and a grey bag and gloves.

Queen Has Cup of Tea. Half-way through her inspection of the Dominion pavilions the Queen asked for a cup of tea, in which the King joined her. At the New Zealand pavilion she was presented with a pair of gloves made from New Zealand sheep pelts, and at tho Canadian pavilion with a couple of Shirley Temple dolls for the two small Princesses.

The day was fine, with an east wind, but tlie sun shone, and everyone seemed care-free and happy, in marked contrast with the stei£ and rigid police precautions for the meeting between Hitler and Mussolini on the same day. The King of England and his Queen had no fears and no risks as they went amongst their <*ul>jeots. and the people were under no iron restrictions.

Lauder Whirls His Kilt. When Sir Harry Lander (in kilte. with a <rrey tweed jacket and a tam and muffler of light blue) walked away from his place across the turf of the stadium. lio had a ehrer almost equal to that of Their Majesties, and the conductor of the band quickly switched the music to "I Love a Lassie," to which the comedianknight responded by dancing a few steps and waving an acknowledgment. Perhaps the two most spectacular features of the opening were the fanfare of trumpets by twelve trumpeters, of the Guards, standing rigid high up on the skyline above the stadium, handsome in their red coats, with white belts and silver helmets with plumes, and the flight of 26 aeroplane* which circled low over the stadium as the ceremony concluded.