WEMBLEY FAIR

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 139, 9 December 1924, Page 6

WEMBLEY FAIR

THE NEW ZEALAND COURT

'OEAVE ERROR" NOT TO CONTINUJG IT.

Tlio cabled announcement that the executive of the British Empire Exhibition lias unanimously decided that the ExJiibtion ohiijl continue ne.xt year recalls tho statement made some weeks ago that New Zealand would not particil>ate in the venture if it was continued in 1025, 11, \ a understood, however, that the matter in being reconsidered, and it is iiuw expected Dial the Dominion court jvjD be opened for the extended period In thia connection, an interesting letter lias been received by a friend in Wellington W one of the principal officers jit the i\ew Zealand Pavilion, in which he discusses the prospect of New Zealand I not participating, in the continuance of, tho big /air. inferring to the efforts being made at the time of writing to continue the Exhibition next year, the writer expresses the opinion that the Government would be committing a grave error if it decided not to continue the New Zealand section, lie points out that the six months of spade work already done would be to some extent wasted if the other courts remained open next year and New Zealand withdrew. The building was erected, which was more than could be said on the opening day, and the only expense involved would be that of re-fur-bishing and of maintaining the staff. "-As a matter of fact," ho says, "the exhibits are of little importance. The important thing is yie opportunity of meeting people and talking to them. Plenty of people of moderate means are seeking to get away from the high income tax. The Exhibition ■ attracts them, and they then go round the pavilions and draw comparisons. We meet _ scores of people with fixed incomes from investments ranging from £250 to £1000 per year. These people now /find themselves -below the living line, and seek some place where the sum will go further, and will not be eaten up by income tax. Many are going to Italy and France, but numbers are considering New Zealand. It may 0e held that the High Commissioner's office is there for the purpose of dealing with such cases, but the information staff here feel that -these people would not go to London to make inquiries. Of course, if the other Dominions, sucii as Canada and Australia, were not staying on, we would all be on the came footing,, bnt with our show closed, and the others open, it would mean a* great loss of prestige to New Zealand. . "The ground has been poisoned by the letters that have gone to New Zealand " he says, "and I suppose the Government has been feeling the hostile • criticism. But we feel that great harm will be done if we desert our pavilion.". Most of the criticism of the New Zealand pavilion, he declares, was one-eyed and quite unfair. All comparisons wire with Australia and Canada, which spent ten i pounds for every pound New Zealand jhad to spend.