The British Empire Exhibition.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17414, 27 March 1922, Page 6

The British Empire Exhibition.

Early in January last, in response to a, special appeid hy that unweaiied and sppcessful pleader for all,good causes, the Prince of Wales, tho Guaranty Fund for the Britis> Empire Exhibition reached £1,000,000, and on January 10th the Duke of York turned the first tod at Wembley, and inaugurated ttw work of building. It is the. special feature of this Exhibition that it is being undertaken for the commim benefit bf till parts of tho Empire. Hitherto, it has heon pointed out, theivs have been exhibitions intended to familiarise the "Mfcther Country with the resources of the Dominions, and exhibitions intended to display tftto resources ol; the Mother Country, but there has waver been an exhibition which attempted to givo a, comprehensive survey of setLl "the Em"pire stands for in the realms of "science, art, and commercial develop- " ntent." Nor hi this all. The buiMirigs of the Empire Exhibition are being put .up on specially acquired freehold, and are intended to be permanent and used continuously benefit of the Empire. And the dis-

turbing element of private profit, which is 90 apt to react badly on enterprises of this nature, ha 9 been eliminated. But we shall soon bo in a position to hear about this Exhibition and all it stands for and hopes to effect at first hand. For, with a view to spreading a knowledge- of the features and scope of the Exhibition, and to enlisting sympathy, support, end active participation in the various Dominion?, a special Mission, which left Southampton in tho Kildonan Cnstle on January 20th, is being sent all round the Empire. It has already, if the time-table has been carried out as arranged, dealt with South Africa, and left Bc-ira for Colombo, whence it is to come to New Zealand, spending frix or eight weeks in Australu en route, and after fulfilling a local programme extending from June 14th to July !2lith, is to leave for Canada, arriving homo again towards ,the end of October. At the head of tlhis Mission is the assistant-general manager of the Exhibition, Major E, A. Belcher, some few years ago headmaster of Christ's College, and well known in this city, and with him are Mr F. Hiam, agricultural adviser, Colonel Christie, financial adviser, and Mr Bates, secretary. The aim of the Mission is to get into close touch and hold conferences with the Frimo Ministers of the various Dominions, the Ministers for Commerce, the departmental heads, and, presumably, chamber.-; of commerce and representative men of science, and to invite suggestions from them as to how best the interests of their particular com'munity may \v served. Complete sets of drawings and plans, and some ■models of the buildings for the United Kingdom faction will bo shown, and plans for tho Dominion pavilions will bo discussed. Other topics which will be dealt with aro "Mie nature and presentation of "exhibits, .and suggestions from each "part of tho Empire for practical! "methods of developing its own rax " materials and increasing intcr-Inipe- " rial trade. Proposals regarding tropi''cal diseases of human beings, plants, " and animals ; agriculture and forestry ; " and mineral resources. The progress "of negotiations with shipping confer"encevs regarding rebates in connexion "with the Exhibition. The advantages ." given by tho Exhibition to show the "progress of settlement schemes." As Major Bclxliier pointed out in a, notable speech 'at a Royal Colonial Institute luncheon to the Mission on the evo of its departure, its members hope to prove in a very real sense liaison officers of Empire, and expect to return from thoir very interesting jounioy furnished with many really concrete proposals for Dominion co-operation and,help, for j their missjon is largely a mission of enquiry. I