EMPIRE EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 224, 9 June 1923, Page 8

EMPIRE EXHIBITION

MEETING OF ADVISORY COUNCIL

At the latest meeting of the Empire Exhibition Advisory Council of Now Zealand, attended by Mr. W. S. Bennett (chairman), and Messrs. T. O. Bishop. F. R. Bushell, J. W. Collins, A. Hunt, J. Reid, and A. Seed, it was reported that prepartions for the oonstrutcion of the New Zealand Court were well advanced. The question whether a restaurant should be provided in the New Zealand Court and kept supplied with New Zealand foodstuffs was discussed. A New Zealand catering firm wrote to the council suggesting that a limited liability company should be formed to attend to the catering, and the suggestion was referred to a sub-commit-tee. The feeling of the council was that it would be best for New Zealand to have the catering in the hands of a New Zealand caterer. There, was no very definite information available about the proposals of the exhibition authorities on the subject of restaurants and catering. In the kinema hall, -films of New Zealand life and scenery, which are now being prepared by the Government Publicity Office, will be given prominence. The Government Publicity Officer (Mr. H. T. B. Drew), informed the meeting that the. Government photographers were making good progress with the preparation of the films, and that with the new camera lately procured film was being produced which would be equal in quality to any from other parts of the world. The council accepted the recommend.ation of a sub-committee that a Samoan house or “fale” should be erected at the exhibition, provided that the expenditure did not exceed £3OO. This amount would have to cover the expense of sending two Samoans to the exhibition to erect the fale. From London came the information that only 500 square feet had been allotted New Zealand in the Fine Arts section, and that preferably the works of living New Zealand artists, depicting local subjects should be exhibited there. It was decided bv the council that in addition; provision should be made in the New Zealand Pavilion for an arts section with other productions. in which the works of former New Zealand artists could be shown. The council decided to allocate a minimum of 4500 feet to the secondary industries- of the country Mr. Hunt suggested that an effort should be made to have passengers from the overseas Dominions carried at cheap rates during the exhibition. He submitted that so far as the overseas Dominions were concerned, the. success of the exhibition depended on the facilities which were afforded citizens of the Empire to journey to Great Britain. It was decided that the Chambers of Commerce should be asked to express their views on the subject.