"WEEK FOR THE EMPIRE."

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 3 May 1923, Page 4

"WEEK FOR THE EMPIRE."

I —. — BRITISH GOODS FOR BRITISH PEOPLE. A meeting of the geiK^ul committee ' to advance tiie \veei* -for the Empire effort jji Jiaure/a during tue M inter ttftow wees, was held at the "Winter Show buiJding last evening, there being a -large attendance, including representatives appointed by various organisations requested to send delegates to assist in the effort. ■Mr J. B. Murdoch, chairman of the executive, presided, and there were aiso present: Messrs L. 0. Hooker {secretary and organiser), Washer and Crocker (Egmoiit-Wangamii Hunt ■Club), Preston and Gillanders (Winter •Show), Gillanders (A. and P. Society), ' iviomssey (Trotting Club), Cathie (Hockey Club), Magnusen, Woollianis, and Matthews (Druids' Lodge), Pettett and Burgess (Eire Brigade), Bennett (JNormanby Town Board), JSpragg (Acclimatisation Society), JbucKeridiie and Pierce (farmers' Union) j also Messrs Bennett, Strack, Bond, and H. L. Spratt (members of the executive), and J. it. corrigan, M.P. The chairman said that since the first meeting the sum of £51 9s, subscribed by the Hawera hotelkeepers, had been received and lodged in the Bank of New South Wales by the secretary in the name of the Empire Week Committee, and it would be ne- < cessary to confirm that action and ap- < point members of the committee to", operate on the account. j j.t was duly resolved that the action < of the secretary be confirmed, and that the chairman and Mr B. U. Bennett be empowered to sign cheques, also that , all disbursements be made by cheque, , and no payments be made without tho express sanction of the committee. , iYir B. C. Bennett, one of the two members appointed to canvass for subscriptions, stated ! that so far he had called oil four firms only, and each had contributed £5. The secretary presented a report on ' the work of the window dressing competition committee as follows:-— i It was decided to have window dressing competition for British goods during show week; that the judging be done by public vote. The following classes Mere decided upon:—Class A, drapers; B, men's outfitters; C, boots; L\ ironmongers; E, grocers; F, cabinet-makers .and furnishers; G, fancy goods, to include leather and saddling; H, bakers and confectioners; I, cycle and motor-bike shops; J. electro plate and crockery; X, butchers, to show only on Friday; L, fruiterers. It was decided that the enrance fee b« 2s <5d per window; enries to close on May 31st. The. secretary said the compelilion would be practically self-supporting. Before proceeding further, the chairman said he wished to emphasise the fact that the effort was quite apart from the Winter Show and that the moneys collected would be held by and applied by the comn.ittee solely for the purposes for which the effort was made. , Mr H. L. Spratt put a number of questions, stating that he was a keen supporter of the Winter Show though not connected therewith, and "was not putting his questions for the purpose of detracting from the Show, but only to obtain information that would more clearly define that the effort Mas not , under the control of nor for the benefit of the Winter Show. In reply to Mr Spratt's question*, I t the chairman stated that there would ■ be exhibitions of British-made goods, ; but the committee was only conear-ied i with the exhibits made in the sviop i windows. There would be exhibits -at , the Show also of British-made goods, but no money would go from the committee to assist any show made : n the Show building. I The secretary added that he could not give the names of the exhibitors at the Show. Me would not know until he had seen the British Trade Commissioner, but there would be a good exhibit at the Show. The work of the committee would show where Britishmade goods could be purchased, and thue further the great object of "British goods for British people." This would be greatly helped by the window dressing competition, and in connection with this he could say that he already knew of two experts being sent from Wellington for the special purpose of dressing windows to display certain manufactures. ! Mr Gillanders said that exhibitors at the Show would be charged for space. Mr J. R. Corrigan, M.P., speaking on behalf of the Winter Show Company, wished to remove the impression that the directors of the Winter Show' Company were there for gain. The Winter Show was an institution for the benefit of the whole community in the same way as the A. and P. Association. Not one of the directors had leeeived a single penny out cf the Show, there were not any directors' j fees, they did not even get their expenses. The idea^of holding a Winter Show as a benefit to the district was taken up by a few energetic citi^ns, and the only way to get it instituted was to form a company, but it was m,t there for personal profit, but for the : good of the district.. With regard" to the exhibits of British goods irr any exhibits in the building L he Winter' Show Company took the entire re- ' sponsibihty. Anything dono in thri : town was a separate affair, and the committee's funds would be their own. It was quite true that ihe V, inter Show was willing that its secret irv tnd manager shou i give the com mi;tee every assist.tu.o in making a success! of the effort. j Mr Spratt expressed himself as satis- ' fied that it was clearly established that < there would be an exhibition of British goods at the show to foster the object of the Committee of British Goods for British jpeople. Mr Pierce, as a shareholder in the v inter Show Company, stated in sup- ! port of Mr Corrigan that he was quite I aware that they got nothing personally out of the Show. Mr Buckeridge, referring to what had been decided wiui. regard to ', bringing children to Hawera and providing refreshments for them, said that he would like to see the educational opportunity developed by addresses to the children, if possible demonstrated by cinema pictures. He thought that the Trade Commissioner could help with films. The secretary said that the committee would have to be careful that it did not undertake too much. The idea was good, but there were difficulties in the way. However, he was going to Wellington and was enedavouring to get the four Taranaki members oJ Parliament to wait upon the Prime Minister with him to ask for a few things. He understood that educational films were being prepared. Mr Strack said that they were already prepared, and a lecturer, an exschool teacher appointed to travel with the films. It might be possible to arrange to have selected subjects shown during the week. The secretary mentioned that it would not be possible to do anythin/r in the Show buildings, as space was being so rapidly taken up that it was a foregone conclusion that there would not be any to spare when all allocations

were made. The latest application was from the Forestry Department, which required GO feet of space. Mr Corrigan suggested that J' xr Q on _ roy should be interviewed to € c whether he would not show c he ninis, if obtainable, at the Ura^d Theatre' in the mornings. The. children would have time to. fill ir^ and it would all help the object,. A resolution was then passed: That it be a recommendation that an endeavour be made to arrange with. Mr Conroy, if the films could be obtained, and Messrs. Uuckeridge, Strack, R,. P. Morrissey anil J. R. Corrigan were appointed a sub-committee to make the necessary inquiries, etc. In reply to the chairman, the secretary stated that so far as spoits attractions were concerned two football matches would be .rtiayed in Hawera during the week—Taraiiaki v. Wellington on Wednesday, -7, and New Plymouth High Scho.l v. Wanganui Collegiate School; also a golf tournament would lie arranged. Mr. C. H. Washer said that if Viscountess Jellicoe would attend the Hunt Club would arrange for a hunt at such time us would suit Her Excellency's convenience. This suggestion was heartily approved. Mr. Cathie said that with the footjall matches in the way on Wednesday : nid Saturday it would be difficult to ; xrraiLge a hookey tournament, but it < might be possible to arrange one on the J Thursday for the benefit of those play- ] 3ts residing in districts where Thurs- ' lay half-holiday was observed. This pould be brought forward at a meet- 1 ing of the Hockey Association on Mon- ' [lay. ■■ The secretary suggested that it would : be well to open the Empire week pro- ; ceedings on the Monday night, when everyone would be free. It would then i be possible to arrange a grand procession, in which it would be advantageous to have the assistance of the Friendly Societies. The entertaining of visitors could take place on the same evening. This suggestion appealed to meet with general approval. Mr. Washer made the suggestion thai if Their Excellencies did attend it would he pcssible to open the show on luesday morning instead of the afternoon, leaving the afternoon free for Her Excellency to attend a hunt. Mr. Corrigan, on behalf of the Winter Show Co., said that in the event of the presence of the Vice-Regal party thi ssuggestion would have favourable consideration by the directors. Mr. Washer agreed to a suggestion made that the Hunt Club should communicate direct with Viscountess Jellicoe. The matter of town decorations was next discussed. The secretary reported that the frames of three arches erected at the time of the Prine's visit were stored and available. The Hibernian Society would erect one if the committee would supply the covering material, and the farmers' Co-op, would vundertake all the work in regard to another. The Electric Light Co. would assist in some measure also. After some discussion, Messrs Pettett, Spragg and Strack were appointed as a decorations committee, with power to add to their number. The chairman said that the matters ot advertising- and entertaining visitors wouM be dealt with by the executive « Mr Spragg said that the printed envelope issued by the secretary for the use of business people was a splendid advertisement for the effort The map of the North Island with the red spot for Hawera was a splendid idea. ±lis firm was going to use the envelopes. The secretary said he had applied for protection of the idea, which was Ins own. He had made arrangements with the Star office for printing and supply. A number of orders were given to the secretary in the room, as the idea met with general approval. Mr. 'Corrigan was of opinion that the posters issued in -Connection with the effort could be placed in the railway stations throughout New Zealand if the Department was approached and the real nature of the effort made clear. He was going to Wellington next morning and would be glad to assist by seeing the proper authority on the matter. This matter was accordingly left with Mr. Cor.rigan to deal with. Mr. Buckeridge then brought forward the idea that the time was very - opportune to start to work at the other : end to further the object of British goods for Briish people by making a sustained effort to get the British people to use the products of the Dominion. He detailed his own efforts , while in England to get New Zealand butter and cheese brought before the ' consumer directly in such a way that the Dominion would benefit. He thought that with the Empire Exhibition to be held next year it would be a golden oppprtunity for the dairy companies of New Zealand to inaugurate | a campaign to get in first to advertise their products. It was a matter that the dairy companies themselves should take up, but he thought that the committee should take some action to bring the opportunity prominently under the notice of the dairy companies. After discussion, it was left to the chairman to coimnunieate with the dairy companies' organisation. . The meeting then proceeded to deal with the matter of entertaining the school children, and Mr. Corrigan undertook to see to what extent the West Coast Eefrigerating Company could grant space hi its building for the refreshment part of the programme. The secretary said that he had interviewed the chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, who was personally c in favour of giving a holiday to the schools on the day respectively the school children would visit -Hawera. On the motion of Mr. Corrigan, it was decided to approach the chairman of the Wanganui Education Board with a similar request in regard to the schools under the jurisdiction of that board. General satisfaction was expressed on the information being given that Mrs. Hooker was prepared to organise a committee of workers to attend to the matter of dispensing refreshments for the children. Mrs. Hooker and Mr. Strack were appointed as a special committee to deal with this matter, with power to add to their number. The committee then adjourned.