FRENCH MISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18759, 12 January 1923, Page 2

FRENCH MISSION

ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECEPTION. INQUIRING INTO DOMINION INDUSTRIES. EXHIBITION ON WARSHIP. (Feom Ocb Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January H. Arrangements are being made by the Department of Industries and Commerce for the reception as far as the commercial aspect is concerned of the French mission which is to visit New Zealand next week in the curiser “Jules Michelet.” In speaking of the arrangements made for the visit of the mission the Hon. E. P, Lee (Minister of Industries and Commerce) stated yesterday that ho had been officially informed that the “Jules Michelet” with tlie “Victor Hugo” (the latter vessel would not now, however, visit New Zealand) had -been despatched with the mission partially in the interests of the overseas commerce of France. The “Jules Michelet” was equipped to provide an exhibition of (he products of the French industries and to demonstrate the work of post-war reconstiluction in that country, and especially to illustrate the establishment of new industries. “It has been made clear.” said Mr Lee, ‘‘that although to a certain extent the mission is of a commercial nature, the cruiser is by no means to bo considered a trade chip. The visit of the mission will bo made as interesting and as educative as possible. Instructions to this effect have been given to the Department of Industries and Commerce, and Mr J. W. Collins (the secretary of the department) has been in co-operation with the ConsulGeneral of France at Auckland for the organisation of meetings of traders to be addressed by the mission, and to, afford the missioners facilities for seeing some of the leading industries in the Auckland province. The mission, which will bo about 10 days in Auckland will probably visit the Waikato in order to see the progress made in the dairy industry. It will subsequently come to Wellington, arriving hero about January 25. Whilst in Wellington the members of the mission will be largely engaged with the heads _of the Government Departments, but meetings with representative business men and manufacturers are also being organised, and the programme to be adopted here will be guided by the experience gained in Auckland. As the itinerary of the ‘Jules Michelet’ does not. unfortunately, include a visit to the ports of Lyttelton and , Port Chalmers, steps are being token by my department, to invite a delegation of lending business men from Christchurch and Dunedin to visit Wellington to meet the mission during its stay at this port.” Mr Lee added that the assurance received horn Chambers of Commerce and manufacturers’ associations in New Zealand showed that those bodies were taking much interest in the visit of the French' mission. They intended giving the missinners a cordial welcome and at the same time to make known to them the products of New Zealand and to receive information of what, commodities France had to exchange for Now Zealand goods.