EARL GREY ARRIVES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9740, 4 March 1914, Page 3

EARL GREY ARRIVES.

DOMINION HOUSE

(Pib Pbess Association.) DUNEDIN, March 2

In the course of an interview to-night Earl Grey .made the following statement regarding Dominion House. "The suggestion I -have put forward for .the acquisition of a centrally situated site in London for the erection of a block of buildings for housing the overseas representatives has been received Avith unanimous enthusiasm by the press, not only in the United Kingdom, but in the self-governing dominions. It rests with the self-governing States such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, whether a block of Imperial buildings shall' be erected in the centre of London, which will impress not only London but the whole world with the greatness of the overseas Dominions. The building ought to be the finest in London, and rising above Somerset House, will be visible by day over the greater part of London. If the proposal to erect a tower, which will rise like a lighthouse of Empire from the centre of the three acres of Dominion buildings be realised, and if the tower is higher than the top of St. Paul's, a beacon at its summit will be visible by night to every house in London. Just think what that means: Bringing new hope and encouragement to every British heart and making every New Zealander, Australian, Canadian, and Briton realise that the finest building in London belongs to him. "Plans have been made by way of suggestion, which show that it will be possible to have in the centre of the Dominion House a hall as large £S Westminster Hall, twice as' long and twice as wide, and in this hall will be on view, if the Dominions like to take advantage of the opportunity, exhibits of produce. At the present time no one knows where to go to buy Dominion produce, but as it is the desire of every Briton who is worthy of his blood to give preference to the produce of his kinsmen from over the seas you will realise what advantage it wilt be to your growers when the arrangements to which I have referred are made for focussing the attention of the people of England on what your Dominion produces." DUX ED IN, March 3. . Earl Grey and the Countess were the guests of Hon. Jas. Alien and spent a busy day inspecting the Taieri and Peninsula dairy factory, the Roslvn woollen mills, Reynolds' kindergarten and Karitane babies' hospital. In the afternoon Earl Grey was driven round the environs' of the city. He leaves with Hon. James Allen to-morrow and will be the guest- of Mr A. E. Rhodes, lie will speak at Wellington,- probably at a luncheon on the 9th, arranged by the Prime Minister. Lady Sybil left by the second train and proceeds straight through to Wellington, thence to Tando.