"EYE-OPENER FOR THE WORLD"

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 82, 5 April 1924, Page 7

"EYE-OPENER FOR THE WORLD"

LABOUR GOVERNMENT'S INTEREST

PROSPECT OF PUNCTUAL

OPENING.

XBMHU. PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COrTRIBHT.Jf (REUTBR'S TELEGRAH.)

LONDON, 3rd April.

Senator Wilson presided at- a luncheon given by the Australian1 Exhibition Executive Council at Australia House. Among the guests were Mr. Sydney Webb (president of the Board of Trade), Sir Joseph ; Ccok (Australian High Commissioner), and Sir James. Allen (New Zealand High Commissioner).

In proposing the toast of the Exhibition, Mr. Wilson said that given reasonable conditions and . support by the 'wage-earners at Wembley, the Australian secti6n would;be ready by the opening day. He stressed the need for Empire development as regards migration and pleaded for more consideration for our own flesh'and blood in the matter of preference. ■

Mr. Webb promised that the Government would do its utmost to make the Exhibition a success, and rerjrinded his hearers; that the Labour Government was as keenly interested in the Empire as any other Government. He declared that the Exhibition would be an oye-opener regarding the capacity of the Dominions, hot merely to Britain but toHhe world. '

Colonel Liddell, deputy administrator of the. Exhibition, said he estimated that 70 per cent, of the men at Wembley/ had resumed work. Many had left for good, but a certain number of Londoners would probably return tomorrow. The effect of the strike would be far greater than the three da;ys' delay involved, but until the extent of the delay was ascertained;- it would be impossible to tell the effect on the opening date. ' . ' Sir James Stevenson said that he did not care to express, an opinion regarding the effect on the opening of the Exhibition of the upheaval of the past ten days, but he would take a lot, of convincing that the Exhibition would not open on 23rd April. - (Cheers).