EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18180, 28 August 1922, Page 8

EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

DOM INiON BBELIMINAK/t ORGANISATIONWORK OF LOCAL COMMITTEES. There is to be no provincialism in the preparation of a ..notable New Zealand display at' thOv British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Park, 'London, in the summer of 1924. ;: Each provincial district will be invited fa co-operate with the Government in providing a comprehensive exhibit, but the aim is an effective illustration of the resources and progress of the Dominion;, The organisation of national effort «i already under way. An advisory committee of representatives of the primary and secondary industries and the general interests of .the'Wtfllington district has been appointed, and™t is anticipated that a similar committee will be appointed for at a special meeting of representatives, of the same interests at the Chamber of Commerce this afternoon. This course will be followed in Christchurch and Dunedin, and it may be extended on a smaller scale to each of the secondary centres throughout the Dominion. '?. _ _. _ „. It isetated by Mr. J. W. Collins, secretary to the Department of Industries and Commerce, who arrived in Auckland from Wellington on Saturday morning with members of the Empire Exhibition Commission, that the Government mil give early consideration to the question of the scope and character of New <!ealand's display at .the exhibition. There is to be a New Zealand pavdion ab Wembley Park, and it is anticipated that ample opportunity will be provided for an attractive display of the Dominions resources in raw material, and rts development in respect to the primary and secondary wdMtrieß The Government will welcome any suggestions and ideas that will make toll successful Ujbit.; The adywory | committees will invited to adjudicate the merits 6f these and other sucrffestions, and also-the provision of exhibits from ench district for the Dominion collection. Each committee will first consider suggestions from its own district, so that vn the matter of a national display the question of a final selection of raw material, such as minerals arid timber, and products and manufactures will be simplified. There will be no necessity, for example, to discuss the somewhat delicate matter of which district can produce, say, the best butter and cheese. The best, is to be a New Zealand product, and so with everything else. - /. Though it may seem quite a long time till the opening of the'exhibition, on May 1, 1924„\th0 preliminaries of organisation represent a great task,' and the Government is anxious to begin the work of local committees, whose efforts will bo an important factor in securing national success. ■■* - The sports arena at the exhibition is now under construction, and will be ready next year. It will accommodate 125.00b spectators. A model of the arena is now on exhibition in Wellington, and will be forwarded to Auckland later for a similar purpose. It is expected that New Zealand .will have an opportunity of demonstrating > her iame in field sports at the exhibition. THE GOVERNMENT'S VOTE. LARGER EXPENDITURE URGED. Reference was made on Saturday by Major E. A,. Belcher, of the British Empire Exhibition mission, to the Government's vote of £60,000 for the Dominion's representation at the. exhibition. In reply to a question whether he was satisfied with the Government's decision, the head of the mission said that the provision of that sum w;ih at all events a substantial advance on what had been originally contemplated. The hope was expressed by Major Belcher that a revival of tradti would eventually justify a total expenditure of £100,000, because that figure, which he had originally suggested to the Government, represented, in hif, opinion, the minimum which could do New Zealand justice. After all, although New' Zealand, both in area and population, was a small Dominion, it had resources of the utmost importance and possibilities which were almost unlimited. In respeqt of its participation in the exhibition, it was for the moment overshadowed* by the Federated Malay States, which had already decided on a pavilion of 50,000 square feet, involving an expenditure of at least £80,000. He felt sure thij£ when the time came New Zealand would realise this was incongruous, and that if necessary the business community of the country would co-operate with the Government to see that New Zealand took a position in the exhibition commensurate with her ■ importance. , ■ ■ g