IGNORANCE OF THE EMPIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19261, 27 August 1924, Page 8

IGNORANCE OF THE EMPIRE.

EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF THE PAGEANT. SIR JAMES ALLEN’S HOPES. (From Oor Own Correspondent.) LONDON. July 19. Sir James Allen is hopeful that 1924—the year of the British Empire Exhibition —will dispel much of the lamentable ignorance that still exists regarding the Empire. As an instance, he - mentions, in a contribution to the Dundee Evening Telegraph, how that, after a Guildhall dinner to children, he asked eight or 10 London children if they know where New Zealand was. A bov of about 15 years of ago was tho solitary one who would give an answer, and he said Now Zealand was “somewhere near New Guinea.” “Comment’ seems almost superfluous,” adds the High Commissioner. “but I will say that it appears to me tho time is ripe for some more intensive scheme of tuition in Empire geography and history to be adopted in British schools.” “I believe the Pageant of Empire will be of incalculable value, not only to British school children, but to adults. It will present in vivid and impressive form the salient features in tho history and development of the dominions of our vast Empire. It will awaken us to a true realisation of the value of Empire unity. The immense size of the pageant may be gauged from tho fact that 12,000 performers will take part in the stirringly dramatic and gorgeous scenes which will reveal in telling fashion the many hard-won glories of the Empire.” “Nothing like this pageant has been previously attempted. It will be a landmark in our Empire progress. ■ It will commemorate wonderful deeds of our forefathers down through the ages, and will be a never-to-be-forgotten and cherished memory in the minds of ail wno witness the production. Names of great pioneers by land and sea will assume a new significance as a result of this visualisation of heroic endeavour and achievement. What we are striving to do is to typify the wonderful British spirit that has gone to make this country and her dominions what they are—supreme in the eyes of the world.” “And I venture to assort that there will not be one man, woman, or child who, having seen the pageant, will not feel a new thrill and an awakening realisation of pride in the country that has given them birth.”