BRITAIN IN PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 48, 25 February 1921, Page 8

BRITAIN IN PEACE

RECOVERING LOST GROUND,

Swords are now being turned into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks in Britain at a rapid rate. The recovery of lost ground due to the war has been almost marvellous. This was apparent at the exhibition of British manufacturing pictures at the King's Theatre yesterday. The exhibition was opened by the Hon. E. P. Lee (Minister of Industries and _ Commerce). Mr. W. Cuthbertson presided (for Mr. M. Carr, chairman Wellington Chamber of Commerce), and there were also on the platform Mr.«R. •\V. Dalton (H.M. Trade Commissioner) and Mr. J. W. Collins (Secretary of "the Department of Industries and Commerce;. Mr. Lee described the purpose of tho pictures, i.e., to demonstrate to the world the wonderful recovery made by Great Britain after years of concentration on war-work of every description. He bespoke a cordial welcome for Captain Drysdale, who was in charge of the exhibition, and hoped that his mission would be an unqualified success. The organisation exhibiting these striking pictures ' came to New Zealand with excellent credentials. It included the British Producers' Association. The Minister pointed out that in 1914 the British imports into New Zealand totalled 11-J- millions out of 22 millions sterling, or 51, per cent.; that in 1919 they totalled 11£ millions out of 304 millions, or a drop to 37.6 per cent.; but in 1920 the percentage had risen to 48.3 per cent., the trade between Britain and New Zealand (imports and exports) reaching 293 millions out of a total of 61i millions, He hoped that that expansion would continue, and asked all present to give a hearty welcome to both Mr. Dalton and Captain DrysdaJe. He wished every success to the mission for the furtherance of British trade.

Captain Drysdale acknowledged his great indebtedness to the Dominion Minister of Industries and Commerce for his remarks and the sympathy shown in the mission. He likewise thanked the Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Dalton for_ the valuable assistance they had given him in showing what great strides Britain had made in recovering her pre-eminent position as a manufacturing country after the '-nig years of war. They must not expect to see pictures of so high a character in the matter of as those posed, arranged, and taken in the clear atmosphere of Los Angeles .or South Africa. At the same time, the pictures shown—almost all of them taken since the armistice—were of actual daily working, and not just arranged for the camera. One of them -vould show a great engineering shop at the Armstrong, Whitworth works, which had been turning out shells for the war, anl on the first anniversary day of the armistice had turned out" a locomotive, leaving the works under its own steam.

The pictures subsequently shown to a largo audience of business men needed no further .apology from Captain Dryatiale so far* as, interest-, was concerned. They were full of most interesting detail, and impressive as the tale they told of Britain's marvellous recuperative power 'and energy in recovering from the war. Fine views of tho Tyne, of steel works, copper tube and plate mills, great cotton mills in.Bolton (both interior and exterior views), miles of them as seen" 1 from a tr.iin; the making of cutlery, needles, ifafety pins, and fishing tackle, were among tho pictures shown. Admission is free. The' pictures are showing this afternoon (other.subjects than yesterday), and will bo shown.on Monday and.Tuesday nest. Arrangements will be made to admit !children when the pictures are shown to schools. ■ They we. not admitted to other exhibitions. ' The pictures are of great .educational interest.