WEMBLEY EXHIBITION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1186, 8 December 1924, Page 12

WEMBLEY EXHIBITION

PRINCE’S BIG PART. SUCCESS OF WEMBLEY. LONDON, Nov. 24. . Tin- Australian High Commissioner, Sir Joseph Cook, in his reply to the letter from the Prince of Wales, praising the excellence of the Australian exhibition at Wembley, said that Australians were deeply sensible of the Prince’s great part in the success of tho exhibition. His keen interest afforded continued encouragement to the exhibitors. NEW IDEAS FOB 'WEMBLEY. PREPARING FOll 1925. LONDON, Nov. 22. The Council of the British Empire Exhibition will meet at Australia House to consider the report of the manager of the Australian pavilion, Mr H. C. Smart, recommending drastic alterations in the Australian display at Wembley, should it be reopened next year. Under Mr Smart’s scheme, the commercial value of the exhibits will be enhanced, and they will also be made more* attractive to visitors. There will be more working models and dioramas of Australia’s beauty spots. It is regarded as certain that New Zealand will participate at Wembley in 1925. Tho Wembley authorities are opposed to the Dominions running restaurants during the proposed 1925 term of the exhibition and using their own products. i The authorities believe that the ■catering can only be handled by a firm possessing an enormous and existing organisation. Competition would not show the effectiveness that the Lyons’ monopoly achieved.

DEFICIENCY OF £1,700,000. PROSPECTS FOR 1925. LONDON. Nov. 25. Details of the Wembley finances are now available. Thu capital expenditure totalled £2,950,000, and the preliminary and running expenses £850,000. The receipts amounted to £2,100,000, leaving a deficiency of £1,700,000. It is estimated that the running expenses for 1925, including substantial advances to tho Dominions, will absorb £4G0,060, which tho British Government has agreed to guarantee. Thus Wembley, in 1925, will require to earn only £1,700,000 to squure accounts, ns the assets will be set against any deficiency. Appealing at a luncheon to Prince llenry for £SOOO to wipe out the overdraft on the Fairbridge Farms, and to enable the work of training youthful intending emigrants to be continued, Mr Merv Thomas said: “When Friend Amery is asked in the House of Commons to justify the expenditure on Wembley, ho should not answer criticisms in terms of £ s. d., but should point to the millions of children who have seen he resources of the Empire. Similarly, the Fairbridge Farms must not bo judged financially, but in the terms of the future citizens and the progress of tho great British Commonwealth.’’