BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18761, 15 January 1923, Page 8

BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION

CANADA’S PROTEST. AN UNEQUIVOCAL STATEMENT NECESSARY. (Fiiom Onn Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 30. No doubt all will come right in the end, but in the meantime Canada is playing the part of the spoiled child in regard to participation in the British Empire Exhibition. Canada has now definitely stated through her High Commissioner that sho is averse from any participation in the exhibition if the promoters are not prepared to make it in fact, as well as in name, a demonstration of British Empire products and no other. From what one can gather the Executive Council has been making an effort for some time to inform the public that this is their intention. Tho fact that they used a small quantity of foreign timber in the construction work was owing to there being a shortage of British timber at a time when they were pushing on at high pressure with tho stadium which has to bo finished by next April. Then there seems to Ire tho question of using French wines or wines grown within the Empire exclusively. Finally, someone mentioned that Canadian wheat will not make good bread.

The disclosures made by Mr Robert Dornld wore doubtless warranted, but they seem already to have served their purpose, and tho dominions now have powerful representation on the Advisory Committee and the Executive Council. Sir Joseph Cook (High Commissioner for Australia) has reassured his people that tho interests of tho dominions will be well looked after. Sir James Allen is confident that all the members of committee and council arc anxious to make it exclusively a British Exhibition. In tho case of Canada the mention of wheat seems to have been taken very deeply to heart. They forget that it was the expression of one man's opinion. Had someone said that New Zealand frozen lamb was unfit to provide meals for the exhibition visitors similar umbrage might have bean justified on tho part, of New Zealand, but it would only have demonstrated the greater need for .enlightenment with regard to Empire produce. In the course of an interview. Mr P. C. Larkin, High Commissioner for Canada, explains his position. Mr P. C. LARKIN’S STATEMENT. “We were, of course, invited to join in the project,” ho says, “and the Canadian Government was considering the matter when statements appeared in tho press to tho effect that foreign as well as the products of our own Empire would bo admitted. These statements have not yet been officially

challenged, and wc are, therefore, led to the conclusion that it is not to be an exhibition exclusively designed - to show to the world what tho British Empire can produce and supply. Canadians feel, therefore, that there is really ,no justification for holding the exhibition, and, as things stand at present, they are not disposed to devote a large sum of money to support a project which in name only may be said to advertise the British Empire. “We were led to believe at the beginning that the Exhibition was to demonstrate to the world that everything that was necessary for our existence could bo raised in our own Empire. Then suddenly wo are told that Canadian wheat will not make good broad and that Canadian timber is not suitable for the purpose of the Exhibition, and so on. These statements we do not for one moment admit. The assorted purposes of the Exhibition are not. therefore, going to be served. It is to bo just an ordinary Exhibition. Participation would cost Canada some two million dollars, and (his is a lot of money for a project which will not, it seems, bo carrying out tho object which it was proposed to serve. “We have not so far taken any share in the promotion of the Exhibition. The Canadian Government were thinking; of doing so .when the statements made in the press caused them to hesitate. And since these statements have not been contradietd, we have allowed the matter to rest, because Jt was clear to us that tho whole status of the Exhibition has been altered. If the Exhibition is not to be nn exclusively British effort —if foreign products are to be admitted—then Canada will not have any interest, in it. Two Canadian Ministers are now in France in connection with the signing of a Treaty. They are coming to London, and I shall consult with them on the question.” The High Commissioner added that tho Canadian Premier hod been in correspondence with him on tho subject, and the matter now rested with him, and that, after consulting the Ministers, a final decision would bo reached. WANT OF TACT.

“We do not suppose,” says Tho Times, commenting on the situation, Mr Larkin wishes for one moment to insist ou hard and fast conditions that would make the task of tho Exhibition authorities unreasonably difficult. We have already said that, if there is some delectable adjunct of the dinner table which tho Empire cannot supply, only tho unreasonable would wish to’ exclude it. Yet, on broad principles, Mr Larkin and those who think with him are undoubtedly right.

. . We have no doubt that the Executive Council wish to carry out their difficult task in a manner worthy of tho best traditions of the Emipre. Their immediate task is to remove tho unfortunate impression that there has been any departure from the original conception. Tho higher aspects of the ideal ought not to become obscured by commercial details. There is, and must be, a commercial side to the enterprise, but it cannot be allowed to obtrude itself. Probably tho Executive Council have not attached enough importance to the psychological effects of their Actions. At all costs they must avoid an. attitude

towards the integral portions of the Empire that might for a moment suggest lack of sympathy with their ideals insufficient knowledge of their resources, or disregard of their, material interests. That would defeat the whole object and purpose of tho Exhibition. An unequivocal statement should bo promptly issued reaffirming the principles that will govern ovoryV arrangement the Exhibition authorities may make. A British Empire Exhibition without Canada taking her rightful share in it would be inconceivable. The Empire must present a united front on an occasion of such importance. Mr Larkin, we sec, attributes the difficulty to wont of tact. That is a generous explanation, and the spirit that prompts it is an encouragement to those who believe that the Executive Council can still retrace a false step and secure the good will and loyal support of every part of His Majesty's dominions.” BRITISH ENTERPRISE IN NEWFOUNDLA ND.

Sir Patrick T. M'Grath, Piesident of the Legislative Council of Newfoundland, who is at. present on a business visit to England, has some complaints to make regarding Britain’s method of extending her trade overseas. Nevertheless, ho foresees great good from the lending Exhibition

“'The puojerk.,” ho says, “which will display only Empire products —raw materials and manufactures—which will bring dominion buyers to Britain to tell British manufacturers what they want, wo regard as proof that tho bad old days are over. Britain wants our custom, and is actually anxious to find out exactly what wo need. After the Exhibition, if it is energetically followed up, our old trade with the mother country should bo restored. Wo shall see representatives from British firms in Newfoundland showing their samples, booking orders, and learning our likes and dislikes; and in return wo shall sell our raw materials in Imperial markets instead of in foreign markets as we have been compelled to do in the past. With a little encouragement wo shall organise our fishing industry, adopt the principle of mass-production, and sell fish products to Britain. Iron ore will go homo instead of to Germany. At (he present time, the British Empire Steel Company, mining in Newfoundland, is compelled to market ore in enemy countries. In the current year, despite the difficulties of exchange, 750,000 tons of ore have been sold in Germany. Only British apathy could have brought about such a state ot affairs. Tho women of Newfoundland may live a considerable distance from Paris and London. but. they are by no means unmoved by pretty things, and far from indifferent to fashion. Yet British importers seemed to consider that anything would do for them. The result was that America won almost a monopoly of supplying frocks, ns distinct from more clothing. Newfoundland women might ho anxious enough to buy from their follow British citizens in Britain, but if they did, they had to do so at tho expense of their artistic sense. America made her wares attractive; Britain did not trouble to do so,”