NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13147, 9 April 1906, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION

A MEETING OF BRITISH MANUFACTURERS. OrP. London correspondent, writing on < March 2, says: Yesterday afternoon at the Cannon-street Hotel, a meeting of [ British manufacturers was held for the • purpose of having laid before them the [ advantages offered by the coming Christ- ' church Exhibition. In the course of a. , business-like statement, Mr. Reeves said > the Exhibition would attract not only the . people of New Zealand, but those of ihe Australasian colonies, who visit New Zea- ■ land during the summer months in large numbers, and he could not but think that this Exhibition will have a very material effect on the commerce between New Zealand and this country. Mr. Tedwiu point- | ed out that New Zealand gave a very de- | cided preference to British manufacturers over those of any other nation. No colonial exhibition ever better deserved the support of British manufacturers, if for no other reason than to try and induce Aus- | tralia to follow the example set. Nothing I could better illustrate the confidence of the New Zealand Government in the Exhibition than the undertaking to return unsold goods free of charge. In reply to questions, Mr. Reeves said there was no general rate for freight. Exhibitors could make their own arrangements with the shipping ' companies, but he understood that there would be a reduction. Asked as to whether duty would be payable on exhibits, he replied that the Exhibition would be a bonded warehouse: that dis- ! posed of that question. Statistical matter j relative to New Zealand was distributed | among those present, and then the meeting terminated. "The coming International Exhibition at Christchureh, New Zealand, should be of particular interest to Britishers" (says the Globe). "Apart altogether from its Imperial aspect, the commercial opportunity offered should be made the most of, as undoubtedly it will lie by foreign firms. Some leading men of commerce among s ourselves are of opinion that they do not get any practical advantage in increased trade through such exhibitions. However true this may be with regard to those held on foreign soil, where hostile tariffs shut them out, it does not apply to New Zealand, which already buys £8.000,-000 yearly from the Mother Country."

We have received a copy of the schedules of the Home Industries section of the NewZealand Exhibition. The definition of the term " Home Industries" is the work of the individual as distinct from the work of firms and factories, and the committee earnestly appeals to all employers to assist this movement by using their best endeavours to encourage their employees to take their part in this section. A perusal of the schedules shows that the commercial and industrial classes, whilst open to all, afford special opportunities to students at technical schools of all grades, and such students can enter not only in any of the sections throughout the schedules, but also in the sections specially set apart for them. With a view of increasing the interest taken in technical education, it was thought that complete sets of exhibits, showing the methods adopted in some of the best technical schools in the world, would be most interesting. Letters have been sent, to some of the leading technical schools in England, Germany, America, France, and Australia, and it is hoped that a most interesting and instructive display will be made of modem educational methods and appliances.