EMPIRE PAGEANT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18127, 17 July 1924, Page 12

EMPIRE PAGEANT.

HISTORY IN REVIEW.

TREE EXHIBITION AT WEMBLEY,

(Br (eecteb's tzleghams.)

LONDON, July 15.

In the House of Commons, replying to a question, Mr W. Lunn (Parliamen*. tary Secretary for Overseas Trade) said that it had been arranged to throw open, at the performances of the Pageant of Empire, nearly half the total accommc'-./.ion in the stadium free of charge. The authorities had arrived at the decision, despite the sacrifice of revenue which it would involve, because it realised that the pageant was not merely a magnificent spectacle, tut also an educational instrument of the highest value. The Government desired to give all classes, especially the children, every facility for witnessing it. OUR HERITAGE. AM OF THE PAGEANT. HOW THE EMPIRE CAME. The Pageant of .'Empire „fLt Wembley is-to be staged , in the stadium every evening for six, weeks, finishing at the of next month! v <'lt was felt/' wrote Prince Arthur if Conhaught recently with reference to the great Empire gathering at the Exhibition —"that such a

concentration of British subjects should «iie marked by some special celebration "which would .express in a /vivid form„ something of the feelings : and pride in the past which are shared -'J the King's subjects throughout the \wbrld—-something which would tell of the wonderful inheritance of the peoples under our flag. i "It was thought that the occasion - should be taken to stage in the Em* pire Stadium something in the nature ; of a striking visual representation of the Empire —to produce in pageant form the activities of some of our great fore- *" fathers who exercised so profound an influence on the growth and develop- • inent of our Empire; the result of their labours in the existence to-day of our great Dominions overseas, and episodes gf stirring interest in the history of, our country. • »-*■-" The proposal was examined from, the practical point of view, and the Government decided -to. accept responsibility for the organisation of a ■ great Pageant of Empire. The direction and administration of this great task' —-for ■, no pageant on ,8110b a eeale is pro* ' posed has ever been staged in, this • country—is being undertaken by a ' council set up by the Government, The j actual work of preparation has been fa trusted to an Executive Committee ! u which are representatives of all the I participant Empire countries. , • "The pageant will be divided into 1 three great geographical divisions,, one being'performed eaeh evening, and there will be two complete perform-, ' »«ces of the three-day programme each for six weeks. ', "Each of the great Dominions mil ? show a number of incidents in its his- * -tory' leading up, to. the. present • day.. There will be magnificent episode? portraying ■some of the .great landmarks is history of this country - in-relation to Empire development] the setting forth of the great explorers, Cabot leading 'the way: the days of Queen Elizabeth; the triumph of the British Fl«efc, under 'Blake. There will be commejnoratiohs Of the great heroes of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, and of those who gave 'learning : and i;he beauty of language to the world. ' '."The three-day programme will terminate with- a grand finale in the. form 1 ' of the Empire's thanksgiving, ,vhen the glories, resources, and 1 opportunities of the Dominions, India, and the Colonies [will be shown in » great triumph. It ' is,'in' f to. present as fa? ''* l is historicartiSttwe of the' Empire, which Will bfi w»plwe»twy to the modem representation of comprised in the Exhibition itself, 44 The, Government has been fortunate enough to -secure the services of some of the to tHe. produc. tion of pageants, amongthem beiog Mr Prank Laseelles, as Chief Pageant Master, Sir Prank Benson, and Mr Patrick Kirwan. Sir Charles Owen has placed: his unrivalled:- historical at the Pageaßt "A number-; of the episodes in the pageant, will require ,caets of as assy as 2000 performers, and it is estimated that forthe whole pigeant the large number of 12,000 performers will be ■ required if the enterprise is to be - carried through successfully. I may say that the Government has already assured us of the, services of a limited number of eavalry, infantry, and ar. titfery. The City Corporation and the great/Livery Companies are coming forward- wUlMfinw»ials help, ana are interested in -the production'ofa scene' in tfie'great Elizabethan episode. Ama-teur-Dramatic Societies in London are and volunteers have been .se- ' cured jfrota the Civil Service and from many associations formed W 8 result ; of the-war, • " ' "As a nation, English men. .and women- are apt to be apologetic-for the prOud position our country holds among-'the nations of the : ( world. • This " humblo' spirit, no" doubt, is worthy tf t* praise in our national character, • but I do think there: «re tfmes when ought to let ourselves go, and this oe- j casita'seems to mo an opportunity to show to our own people and to the who}? „woTld achievements of the | Britisfi race in'ihV pasV and' tlie vast ppssibilities for the-future." NSW ZEALAND'S PART, FOBTY MINUTi^fISPLAY. (j*o»i ob* owk co*aaspo*D*KT.) \ - LONDON", June 6. Newi Zealand Jim been allotted 40 minutes for her section in the great pagea&t of Empire,at Wgabley, and the Dominion's part will be performed twice # week. When the New Zealand Pageant Com-mittee-was formed, it lostno time in getting to work to select -suitable invident* of historic interest. The History - consists of the ' Hon. W, Pember Beeves, Sir Thomas Mackejme, and Mr VogeL The Cos- • tume : Co#am»ttep consists of keen ; and--''&il«re9Md'---Kev--- Zealanders who ? have <oa&d -what will be historically } a9cpyaja|-=and: suitable, and they -have' 'i?x- £jade,»p their estimate of cost, The tf .* J* 1 r.w IJ'li 11IIJII ■■ I !■ < *i <oofc.«f sgstcolumßJ Afj " i 4 t" li, ~_. * ' .t<