BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18590, 26 June 1922, Page 6

BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION

MISSION TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND.

ITINERARY ARRANGED.

Of tu Uirid Punas AmocutiorJ ! WELLINGTON, June 25. Definite information is now available of the visit to the dominion of the mission connected with the British Empire Exhibition to be held in London during the summer months of 1924. The date of the arrival in Wellington of the miffiion, which completes its tour of the commonwealth, will be July 3. Other principal centres of the dominion will also be visited. The mission, which is composed of Major E. A. Belcher, Assistant General Manager of the British Empire Exhibition (in charge); lieutenantcolonel A Christie (financial adviser); F. W. Bates (secretary), will first confer with the members of the Government, and later with others interested in exhibits to go from this country for display at the exhibition. Referring to the mission, the Minister oi Industries and Commerce (the Hon. E. P. Lee) stated that arrangements for its visit had been practically agreed upon. _ There were, however, one or two points in connection with the itinerary that would have to be left over for discussion with the members of the mission on their arrival. The mission intended remaining ip Wellington until July 6, when it would leave for Nelson and the West Coast, proceeding overland by the Otira route to Christchurch. After spending a few days in that city the mission would go to South Canterbury and Invercargill, and on the return journey stay a few days in Dunedin. From Dunedin the mis#ion would pass through Wellington to Auckland, and if time permitted visits would be paid to tlie North Auckland district. On the way back to Wellington Hamilton would, be visited, and probably also Rotorua. The mission, which, would spend six weeks in New Zealand, was timed ■to leave Wellington for Canada about August 15. In briefly teaching upon the work of the mission, Mr Lee said that while the main purpose for which it had been sent by the Imperial Government to New Zealand had been kept in mind the Department of Industries and Commerce had so framed the itinerary as to ensure the members seeing as much of the dominion as was possible 'from the interesting standpoints of oor life and affairs. In addition to the important conferences which the mission will have with the Government on the questions of policy, added Mr Lee. conferences will bo arranged with the departmental heads and with representative groups of commercial and industrial- interests. The head of the mission (Major Belcher) has also expressed a desire to meet representatives of Labour. The agricultural side of the mission's work has already been gone into with the Department of Agriculture by Mr F. Hiam, one of the members of the mission, who recently visited tie dominion. The main point for discussion with the Government will be the plans and general architectural treatment of the exhibition in relation to this dominion’s pavilion. To assist the Government in this connection the mission will present a complete set of drawings and plans of the United Kingdom section, together with some models of the building. The mission will also discuss the nature and presentation cl the exhibits and will make clear the manner in which the general purposes of the exhibition differ from those of its predecessors. Suggestions will be received for practical methods of developing the raw materials of the dominion and increasing inter-imperial trade. Detailed proposals will also be discussed regarding the dominion’s exhibits in respect of agriculture and forestry, mineral resources, manufactures, land settlement progress, etc. Negotiations will be entered into with the shipping companies regarding - freights on exhibits and passenger tickets in with the exhibition