THE EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 47, 19 November 1925, Page 10

THE EXHIBITION

SECOND DAY VERY QUIET WORK ON UNFINISHED COURTS , EDUCATIONAL FEATURES By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, November 18. Contrasted with yesterday’s hours of jubilation at the ‘inception of the great exhibition enterprise, to-day has been very quiet. That is not to say there have been no visitors, but the fcrowds have been moderate, in size, though very intent on viewing everything possible. A factor in keeping the attendance down to-day has been the opening of the Otago A. and P. Show at Tahuna Park. That, however, is not limiting the patronage of the exhibition to-night, the illuminations and amusement features proving an irresistible draw to the younger portion of the community, while the soberer ones continue to study the exhibits in the various courts. Exhibitors and all concarned with the arrangement of the courts no doubt welcomed to-day’s respite, since it gave them a chance to press on with the preparations that, had to be put hurriedly aside yesterday, and each day will see wonderful strides made toward the ideal of the promoters, a display complete in every detail of the 'world’s great activities. The Government cinema In the Education Court is excellent in its depiction of New Zealand’s scenery and native life and industries. Owing to the late arrival of some films yesterday the programme had to be filled with a presentation of the activities of the port of London that was also educative as showing how New Zealand produce is handled at the other end. Australia’s display gives a fine idea of the great island continent’s potentialities? Besides excellent pictorial representations of the various, States’ scenic beauties, flora and fauna, there are comprehensive exhibits of wines, dried fruits, textiles, leather goods and steel production. The last named is particularly impressive in the eye of the untravelled beholders who had not hitherto realised that iron and steel were produced in such quantities and qualities so near home.

A busy corner of the big show is the Post and Telegraph Office in the Government Court. Many people have dispatched telegram's or posted letters to friends abroad, one incentive being the use of special exhibition postage stamps printed for sale in this office. The attendance at the exhibition yesterday was a record for New Zealand. The turnstiles showed that 47,760 passed through, but several thousand more were unable to get through them, and these entered by way of side gates. Features of Educational Value. Among the features of educational value may be cited the aquarium, dealing specially with fresh water fish, and illustrating the success that has attended acclimatisation work. The large tanks contain various specimens in replica of their natural habitats, while around the walls are mounted trophies of rod and line, as well as of the hunters’ craft, in ’the form of a number of excellent heads of deer and some complete mounted specimens of red deer and chamois. The Maori meeting house, or wliare Runanga, which was erected at Whakatane over half a century ago, presented by the Maoris to Queen Victoria, lost in the cellars of some official building in London and rediscovered in Time tor exhibition at Wembley, finds a place here, and, no doubt, many of the younger generation of New Zealanders, as well as visitors from oversea, will study with interest the early Maori history depicted in the carvings, which torm nart of the bouse.

A fernery i.n another building, ’ of, punga lined with moss, affords the visitor opportunity for quiet .study. Four thousand specimens are shown, 'rhe central portion of the ferfiery is occupied by a rockery with a' mountain torrent in miniature rushing down from a Lilliputian waterfall. The whole scene is particularly beautiful at night, when many ■white and coloured lights concealed in the umbrageous growth bordering the murmuring stream shed tender light' over the picture, while the muffled strains of band music filtering through the thick punga walls sounded like pipes from Elfland. In the building which houses the motor show, a display that outdistances anything ever previously attempted in the Dominion, a lat'ge space has been utilised as an education court. It illustrates every phase of training from the kindergarten and the Montessori system to the University, and gives indication that the authorities unaer the Government attach great importance to the production of good citizens. Work is shown from the hands of children in the schools in many distant corners of New Zealand, as well as displays (some quite ambitious) from larger centres. The home science exhibition, inculcating the preservation of health and conservation of energy, . will make a strong appeal to women. Later on parties of school children from various centres will participate in the demonstration classes. Included in the education court’s display is an exhibition from the London County Council, which is responsible for the training of the youth of the world’s metropolis, and is the chief national education authority in the British Empire. •> Vice-Regal Visit. ,

The Governor-General and Lady Alice Fergusson visited the exhibition this morning and were received by the chairman and general manager. . The contractors were presented to Their Excellencies. Subsequently Their Excellencies -were conducted through the New Zealand and overseas sections. Two workmen who ha I been engaged since the inception of the exhibition were presented to Their Excellencies, who chatted pleasantly with them for some time. In the Imperial section the Commissioner conducted the visitors through the court, where various exhibits deeply interested the party. Similar visits were paid to the Canad; iau, Australian, Queensland, and I-iji courts. This evening His Excellency attended the official exhibition dinner. To-morrow further visits will be made to the courts.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S REPLY TO KING’S MESSAGE His Excellency the Governor-General has sent the following telegram to the King in acknowledgment of His Majesty’s message on the occasion of the opening of the Dunedin and South Seas International Exhibition: — "On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand I thank Your Majtsty for the gracious message which Your .Majesty. was pleased to send on the occasion of the opening of the Dunedin and ■ South Seas International Exhibition and which I had the honour of reading at the opening ceremony. “Your Majestv may be assured that New Zealand will loyally endeavour to conduct the exhibition in such a way as to promote the objects on which Y’our Majesty has laid stress.”

OFFICIAL DINNER NOTICEABLE FEELING OF OPTIMISM J PREMIER ON NEW ZEALAND’S DUTY Dunedin, November 18. An official dinner to mark the inauguration of the exhibition was tendered to distinguished visitors, representatives of oversea countries, and prominent officials and private citizens. Mr. J. Sutherland Ross (president of the exhibition) occupied the chair, and was supported on cither hand by the Gover-nor-General and the Prime Minister. Among those present were the Hou. G. I Anderson, Sir Robert Stout, Sir Joseph Ward, Hon. W. D. Stewart, Commodore Beale, Colonel Young (Commandant of the Southern I Military District), heads of church bodies in the city, Mr. W. 1. Reeves, the Trade Commissioners for Great Britain, Canada, and Australia, and representatives of other colonial Government Departments, also local and visiting members of Parliament. The dinner was a thoroughly successful function, pervaded by a noticeable feeling of optimism regarding the luture of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition itself and of the Dominion. The exhibition in its physical shape, it was recognised, would prove ephemeral, but its effects would be found closelv woven in future trade relations with other countries, which must develop in step with the progress of the Dominion. The toats were only three in number. The Governor-General, proposing that of “The New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition.” referred to the display as more an Empire exhibition than an international one. While he did not intend to deal in detail with the whole exhibition, he felt that special reference was due to the Imperial court for the dignitv of its presentation of the Empire’s historical progress and tradition. It displayed in an unmistakable manner the grandeur of events in British history that had led to the promotion of the British commonwealth as it was today. Wonderful assistance had been given by sister Dominions in providing displays, and in future exhibitions in other parts of the Empire New Zealand would be in duty bound to give her best assistance as a mark of thankfulness. His Excellency paid a tribute to the foresight and persistency of the promoters and all concerned down to every labourer engaged in bringing the exhibition to fruition. It must prove of value in future in the promotion of trade and travel between the various countries of the Empire and abroad. Dhstly, the exhibition would teach children the traditions and lessons of Em■pire, at the same time reminding them of the sacrifices ot the early pioneers whose efforts -bad made yesterday’s achievement possible. Mr. Sutherland Ross (president of the exhibition], in responding, expressed gratitude to the citizens of Dunedin for the great encouragement and assistance given to the venture. Mistakes had been miiffe,- of, course, but he believed that they could congratulate themselves on what had been accomplished. He thanked the Government for the assistance it had rendered. In the early days the promoters had had moments of doubt, feeling that the scheme contemplated was too large, but as time went on it became apparent that the scope must be enlarged.

The Mayor of Dunedin', Mr. H. L. Tapley, M.P., before proposing the toast of “New Zealand,” aroused warm applause by reading a cable message from Earl Jellicoe wishing the exhibition success. Mr. Tapley referred to the progress of New Zealand from the earliest pioneering days and'to the remarkable fortune the country had enjoyed in the matter of National Government. He recalled leading' Premiers who had guided the destinies of New Zealand, and declared that the country owed a great debt to them for having furnished so much assistance to the development of every, province. Mr. Coates, on rising to respond, was greeted with prolonged applause. He complimented the promoters on the success that had attended their efforts in organising the exhibition, and eulogised the assistance rendered by sister countries of the Empire. The exhibition was a means of showing how close was our association in trade and social intercourse with other parts of the Empire. That was the first lesson of the exhibition, but he believed that all would welcome people from foreign countries who desired to live here so long as they conformed to our ideas of Fife and government. While this was so, however, it was the duty of New

Zealanders to give first choice to trade with Britain and British Dominions. New Zealand must give every, assistance in absorbing people from Britain. New Zealand must and would render all possible assistance to the British Navy as the most efficient means to preserve the ocean trade highways. New Zealand believed in the principle of international arbitration, but until this could be made fully effective it. was every Briton’s duty to see to it that the British Navy was maintained, as it furnished the most reliable guarantee of general peace that was within sight. New Zealand was the home of a prosperous communitv, and every means should be furnished for that communitv to make equal progress. Every man and woman must have equal opportunity in all cases. The under dogs should be given the fullest opportunity to make good. There were people in the congested areas of our cities who did not have a proper chance, and it was the country's duty to see that these people had a full opportunity to climb out of the depths of misfortune into the sunshine of prosperity. Finally, New Zealanders must maintain high ideals of racial purity and constitutional government. The only other toast was that of "Our Guests,” proposed by Mr. Peter Barr and responded to by Mr. R. W. Dalton (British Trade Commissioner in .Australia), and by Mr. W. F. Boyle (United States Consul in Auckland). The proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem. Spaldings’ Tennis Balls are the only plugless, stitchless Tennis Balls made —only one quality, for championship or ordinary play. Demand Spaldings’. —Advt.