ADVERTISING THE COLONY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13206, 13 February 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)

ADVERTISING THE COLONY.

Sir J. G. Ward, Minister in charge of the Industries and Commerce Department, in the course of a chat with a member of our staff, referred to the necessity of keeping the products of Iho country before tho consumer. He said: Noticing that an exhibition of colonial products was to lio hold at Liverpool during January of this year, I instructed Department of Industries and Commorco to prepare and get together a comprehensive exhibit of this colony's produce, so as to bring our products directly under tho notice of tho large manufacturing districts of the centre of England, which are all supplied to ;i considerable extent through Liverpool. The exhibits forwarded consisted of frozen mutton and lamb, of which fresh carcases wore to be placed on view each day of the exhibition; a largo quantity of butter and cheese, drawn from some 45 dairy factories; a large variety of grain • and seeds grown within the colony; an extensive rango of commercial samples of kauri gum: all grades of Now Zealand hempj exhibits of wool in fleeces, also washed and greasy.. An extensive exhibit of New Zealand timber, prepared and polished with a view to show its suitability for manufacturing putposes. A special collection of peas, beans, and barley grown in tho Blenheim district, for which that ' district is particularly famous. A large exhibit of colonial-made rugs and blankets was supplied and exhibited on behalf of (ho Mosgiel Woollen Go., which, I aiu pleased to say, has been most favourably noticed. I am quite satisfied that a practical illustration such as this, of tho possibilities of the production of this colony, will do an immense amount of good, and will promote trade, open up fresh markets, and extend those already established. During May next, another exhibition will take place at tho. Crystal Palace, Loudon, which is to last from Slay to October. Tho produce exhibits now at Liverpool will bo transferred to tho Crystal Palace Exhibition, and will bo supplemented where necessary with fresh supplies from tho colony. Space in a commanding position has been secured, and T have little doubt that a creditable display will be mado with the best of results to the export trade of this colony. In these times 'of keen competition, with more favoured markets (at anyrate as regards distance) we must leave no stone unturned to bring directly under tho notice of the .consuming markets tho superior quality and finish of our products, and as wo are all more or less dependent on the welfare of the producer, it. behoves us to use every endeavour to ensure for him tho best market and the highest prices for his produce. In connection with the Crystal Palace Exhibition, I have instructed the Acting-secretary for Industries arid Commerce to visit Christehurch and Dunedin, and other toinis, for the purpose • of meeting manufacturers desirous of exhibiting at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, to be held at the Crystal Palace, London, *dd I am endeavouring to arrange with/.ono

of the Southland cheese factories to manufacture one of those large cheeses shown at the Duncdin winter show, so that is may bo shown at the Crystal Palace Exhibition. Tbo Industries and Commerce Department would take all products in hand, and see them safely delivered and shown, and the Agent-general for the colony would, I am sure, as ho has always willingly done, do'allin his power to help exhibitors from the colony. I should be only too glad, personally, to help to exhibit our cheese and butter from any of. the factories that will avail themselves of the opportunity for obtaining a great advertisement for our colony's products. All exhibits will require to leavo the colony not later than by the s.e. Rimutaka, sailing on March 16 next, which gives sufficient time, and no more, to arrange for the collecting of exhibits.