EMPIRE EXHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11253, 4 July 1922, Page 6

EMPIRE EXHIBITION

BRITISH MISSION ARRIVES DETAILS OF ACTIVITIES IN NEW ZEALAND. IMPORTANT CONFERENCES. Three members of the British Empire Exhibition Mission arrived in Wellington yesterday by the Manuka from Sydney. They are Major E. A. Belcher, Lieut.-Colonel A. Christie and Air F. W. Bates, and the purpose of their visit lias a most important hearing upon the future development of the Dominion’s primary' and secondary industries. The largest Empire Exhibition yet undertaken is to he held in London in 1924, and their object is to tour New Zealand to explain to all interested the arrangements that hare been made. It is hoped and anticipated that New Zealand will figure conspicuously in this world event. Tho buildings alone will cover 120 acres of ground, and will be for the purpose of housing the exhibits for every corner of the British Empire. The cost will be £2,000,000. Meetings have been arranged with the two Wellington Chambers of Commerce and the Industrial Association, agricultural and pastoral interests, and interviews with Ministers and heads of departments, with visits to the works of various industrial conoerns. MEETING THE VISITORS. The Manuka left Sydney on Thursday and arrived' in, the stream about nooii yesterday. She yiassed the health authorities and 'berthed at No. 1, Queen’s wharf, at 2.30. The visitors were met in the stream and welcomed: to the Dominion by Mr R. W. Dalton, His Majesty’s trade /representative; Mr H. T. B. Drew (Department of Internal Affairs), Govern, ment Publicity Officer, Mr F. r S. Pope, Aasistant-Director-General of Agriculture, and! Mr J. W. Collins, secretary of Industries and Commerce Department. While touring the Dominion the mission will take the opportunity of discussing practical methods of developing the Dominion’s naw materials, and how the exhibition will afford magnificent opportunities for tho development of intcr-Imperial trade. Representatives of the two Wellington Chambers of Commerce will be in close touch with the mission, and all interested in the exhibition and the development of trade within the Empire are desired to attend the meeting to he held to-day. FUTURE MOVEMENTS. THE WEEK’S - BUSINESS. Shortly after landing yesterday afternoon the party paid an official visit to the Governor-General, and at 4 p.m. met the Prime Minister and Ministers at Parliament Buildings. At 12 o’clock (noon) to-day they will be given a civic reception at the Town Hall, at which His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.) will preside. At 2.30 they meet the Chambers of Commerce and Industrial Association at the Dominion Farmers’ Institute. On Wednesday, at 10.30 a.m., they have been invited to meet representatives of agricultural and pastoral interests a)t the institute, while they pay a visit Of inspection to the Gear Oo.’s meat works at Petone in the afternoon. On Thursday, at 10.30 a.m. they will have a conference with the heads of departments in the Social Hall, former, ly the Chamber of the House of Representatives. After spending a few days in Wellington the party will proceed to the South Island, returning to Wellington for the North Island tour towards the end of July. Major • Belcher will probably be in the Dominion for about six weeks. 1 CALL ON PRIME MINISTER. OTHER MINISTERS ON THURSDAY. The members of the mission in connection with the British Empire Exhibition paid! a formal call upon the Prime Minister (the Rfc. Hon. TV. F. Massey) yesterday afternoon. They were unable to see the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. E. P. Lee), as he has not yet returned to Wellington. It is understood that the members of the mission are to meet the Hon. E. P. Lee, the Hon. W. Nosworthy (Minister for Agriculture), and other Ministers, together with the permanent heads of their departments, on ThursLta.