EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17940, 7 December 1923, Page 14

EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

OFFICIALS MEET DISTRICT

COMMITTEE.

A meeting 01 the Canterbury District Committee 0f the British Empire Exhibition. was held yestyiday, Mr X. M. Orb ell presiding. fiiere were aisu present: Messrs W. J. Willis. W, H. Nicholson, ~\V. M. Shaiid. (. ■!.- "Williams, W. J. Jenkin. C. Scott, <*.. >l. Holford, D. Colquhcun and L. J. Sehinit! {'secretary;. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr A. P. Roberts (Commissioner for the -Vi.w Zealand Section at the Britisi: Empire Exhibition), Mr W. B. 0. Rcid vAssistant Commissioner). Mr G. Camp (secretary Dominion Ad-viso-'.v Committee"., and Mr D. Hoare tsoerctarv and-accountant New Zealand Section British Empire Exhibition). Mr Roberts, replying, said that he and his' colleagues realised that their appointments would give them an op portunity to help to make , the Dominion a little better known than -it was at present. Unfortunately, New Zealand had. suffered greatly in the past through ,lack of publicity; he hoped that the Exhibition wouid result in this state of affairs being remedied. He congratulated the Christ church Committee on the work they had done in connexion with the Exhibition. Some of the exhibits sent 1 forward from the Dominion had been an eye-opener to him, and they would serve to let the people of the Old Country see that we could produce quite a large variety of manufactured articles for ourselves. He would like it to be understood that very little space would be devoted to Native exhibits. The Dominion had in the. past suffered to some-, extent through a wrong impression being conveved with regard to -the Natives of the- country. He had been asked hi England how the Native question was being dealt with, and when he answered that there was no. such .thing, surprise was expressed. It would be. theaim of the authorities at the-Exhibition, to let-'the'world know that New-Zealand was a country peopled mostly by ish people. Prom what he had seen, lie was convinced that the Dominion would have a splendid exhibit in London.

Messrs Rcid, Hoare, raid Camp also returned thanks for the welcome extended tliem, and expressed their intention of doing their best on behalf of the Dominion.

The-, chairman said'he hoped'the Exhibition authorities would not forget to- cable to the committee in Canterbury if there was anything further required in connexion with the Exhibition. He could assure Mr Roberts that any such requests would be attended to. Mr Scott said he t-.ought the idea of local centres pending money on advertising their particular district at. the Exhibition would not be quite the success. .. expected of it. He thought it would be much better if group advertising were gone in for. There was no doubt that the Dominion was too poorly advertised. We had boon too contented in the past with the prosperity of tlis country, and had not bothered to dra r \ attention to the attractions it offered.; With regard to articles, he, considered that tfre Dominion.; . wijs s able in many instances to make better goods than were • ,n«de at Home. Mr Roberts, replying to questions, said the Government hud issued booklets on. the primary and secondary industries, and had also issued booklets descriptive, of the tour.'st resorts. A. fine collection of films had been got together for display at the Exhibition. It would, therefore, be possible to present a very attractive programme to. visitors to the Exhibition. Personally, he thought that to keep the interest _of the public, no screening of industrial films should extend, boy on d half au hour. : Hp -was firmly of the. ppiaiton that no' effort should bo spared, to develop the tourist traffic of the Dominion. There 'was a splendid opportunity offered, by the Exhibition'to attract tourists to the ' Dominion's scenic resorts. ■ He thought, fcoo, that the attractions of the Dominion should be extensively advertised in America. Mr Camp said that »0,000 .feet of film was- being shipped to the Exhibit tion, dealing. with the national life of the Dominion, its primary a,nd secondaryindustries, its _ tourist resorts, rind various other subjects. In,addition, over 5000 slides had been prepared for use at" lectures. '

Mr Sehmitt asked if theie wasany chance- of cheap steamer fares being charged, to-enable New Zealanders to'go-.to the Exhibition*.... Mr Roberts said that.'application, was made some time ago cheap fares, ■but .the'appeals fell on deaf ears. ' The Government recently in.oved in -tho matter, but met with no success.