ITALIANS VISIT THE EXHIBITION

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 81, 2 October 1924, Page 15

ITALIANS VISIT THE EXHIBITION

TOUR OF THE DOMINION ..". PAVILION.. .

(raoji odr own correspondent.)

'''■'. LONDON, 2nd August." Delegates, from Italy visited the .New Zealand pavilion at Wembley last week. The delegation, is .headed by Signor Stefano Antonio Benni, the Parliamentary Deputy, who is president of the1 Confederation of Italian, Industry, and the head of the two great firms of Ercolo Marelli ayd Magne Marelli. With him are Signor Gino Olivetti (Deputy and general secretary of the federation) and six - others who are leaders of great industrial concerns in Italy. In addition there are two well-known journalists. On their first visit to the Exhibitionthey were met by Sir Rennell _Rodd,chairraan of. the executive committee of .the British-Italian League, formerly British Ambassador in Rome, and by Mrs. :G. M.. Trevelyan,: hon. secretary Of, the-league, under whose supervision the arrangements for the tour have,been prepared. At the invitation of Viscount Burnham, the new president ,\ of the league, a distinguished company' gathered to\meet 'the delegation at luncheon in the'Luculliis Restaurant: •

■ Toasts were cordially ', exchanged after lunch, Lord:Burnham- proposing the monarchs of'the two friendly countries, and, Signor. Benni joining in the expression .of goodwill with . which the dual toast was accompanied. The companynext drank to the health of the Italian delegation,' oh th 0 call of Lord Burnham, and Signor Olivetti made a grateful acknowledgment of the welcome extended to the party. He", recalled,-, as one who had served "at.." the conferences of .--the International.: Labour Bureau, ' the happy memories of those whohad sat under the" presidency of, Lord Burnham, at .Geneva, where his gifts as a journalist, as ■> well as a ' diplomatist, were invaluable. He .expressed the hope that Lord Burnham would next year 'be found once again 'presiding at '■ that gathering.. ... Signor. Olivetti, in 'a - congratulatory reference to .the Exhibition, spoke of it „ as a wonderful'display of the moral and economic forces of the . British. Empire. He referred also to;'the long: record of Anglo-Italian friendship, and acknowledged 7 the services performed Tiy. Great Britain i to his counlry, not brily in her ■struggle f6r,_. independence but also .by the adoption': of an economic* policy not unfavourable to Italian trade. ,v Members of the delegation were shown ; fiver the New? Zealand pavilion by Mr. A. F, Roberts 7arid his staff. They were particularly interested in the-rabbitskin exhibit,".as Italy ■ specialises in the manufacture, of fur .coats? The meat and the. butter were the other sections which claimed mos'tfof their attention, but the. timber' display was " also much.: admired. About an; -hour..was spent, inspecting the exhibits; and'then the film of Rotorua and the thermal phenomena . was. exhibited ;.for',their benefit in 'the Cinematograph: Hall. ;' -.• ;. '