THE EXPOSITION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 105, 5 May 1915, Page 2

THE EXPOSITION

A NEW ZEALAND DAY MEAT EXHIBITS ADMIRED TRADE POSSIBILITIES, (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ■SAN FRANCISCO, 12th April. One of the special events at the 'Panama Pacific Exposition of the near future will be a New Zealand day, devoted specifically to the exploitation and advertisement of the products of the Dominion. Mr. E. Clifton, the New Zealand Commissioner, has been conferring with tho Exposition management regarding the details of the celebration, and although the date has not yet been determined, it wiil be in the comparatively near future. Tho Exposition authorities will be officially represented, and prominent speakers will be invited to participate in the proceedings. The management have promised to do everything in their "power to bring to the notice of visitors the particular interests | and activities of New Zealand. A. printed catalogue of Now Zealand exhibits -will be issued shortly. It will contain a descriptive account of everything on exhibition from the Dominion, including the displays in the New Zealand pavilion as well as the competitive exhibits in the Palace of Agriculture. A concession has recently been made by the Exposition authorities that will widen the chances of New Zealand in the competitive classes when the judges come to make their awards. The articles shown in the Now Zealand pavilion are to be admitted to competition tie well as those in the Agricultural Palace, notwithstanding tho rule originally laid down that nothing housed in the national pavilions should be eligible for competition. The exterior appearance of the New Zealand pavilion has recently been improved in a very marked degree by the planting in the surrounding grounds of trees and flowers received from the Dominion. Groups of tree ferns in tho front of the building have attracted a great deal of attention. A charming feature of this building, too,' is a hothouse, in which a vast variety of New Zealand fern 6 i& shown. A REVELATION. ' But tho outstanding- feature of New Zealand's participation in the Exposition undoubtedly is the display of frozen meats, which is contained in the Agricultural Palace. It consists of beef, mutton, and lamb. The mutton and lamb are a revelation. -The carcases are shown in the pink of condition, being carefully selected for fineness, size, and weight. One group of visitors, after carefully inspecting the Tefrigeratod display, was heard gravely discussing ■whether it was really meat or models. It was finally decided that the lamb was so e-en and so much alike that it surely could not be real meat. The number of Visitors from New Zea> land has not been large. It will, of course, be realised that the European war provides a very good and Buffiriont reason why travel from the Dominion would not be heavy. Whether or not New Zealand and Australia are going to gain any marked advantages in the waV of opening up a widened market in . America for their commodities as a result of their participation in the Exposition is a question that has to be regarded from more than ono standpoint. Unquestionably under normal conditions, with the world at peace, and a moderate American tariff in force, there is a legitimate market in the United States for all the surplus that the Antipodean countries can produce in the way of wool, meats, butter, leather, and certain lines of. fruit. But there js no assurance that the present reduced taTiff will be retained. There are many indications which seem to point to a return of the Republican party to power next year, followed by an upward revision of the I tariff. The only thing that will induce ! the American people to re-elect Presi- i dent Wilson and the Democratic Party ■will be satisfaction with Mr Wilson's course in regard to the European War At present, of course, trade from New Zealand and Australia has practically ceased. Prices, obtained in those countries for primary products are now beyond the- market rates ruling here.v Butter is quoted f.o.b. New Zealand ports at 14d per lb, to which has to be i added about 2£d for freight and duty, j making about 16^ per lb landed here, j On _ the other hand, the quotations in California, for the highest quality local butter 'is 24 cents, or 12d per lb. This disparity is largely due to war conditions, but California is experiencing an unusually bountiful season. Now that the British Government has taken over the whole of the meat. supply of New j Zealand, the activities of the firms that have in the past imported meats from New Zealand of necessity cease.