EXHIBITION SPACE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19374, 9 January 1925, Page 6

EXHIBITION SPACE.

BRITISH OFFICIAL’S VISIT. TO ARRANGE HOME EXHIBIT. “ One of the main objects of my visit to New Zealand is to ascertain the kind of exhibition that the British Government can arrange in order to assist tins dominion,” said Captain S. J. Graham when asked as to the purpose of his visit. Captain Graham is an official of file Board of Trade Overseas Branch, and is at present in Dunedin to represent*the British Government at the New Zealand and South Soas Exhibition. After spending a few weeks in Dunedin, Captain Graham intends to return to Great Britain, and, when he has conferred with those it is probable that he will return to New Zealand in order to supervise the British Government exhibit. Captain Graham has already had a good deal of experience in regard to exhibitions, having been one of those responsible for the laying out of the Empire Exhibition at Wembley. In his capacity as liaison officer between the Government and the Wembley officials, Captain Graham saw the great Exhibition through from its inception to the clearing up after it had been officially closed by the Prince of Wales. . . . Speaking in regard to the Exhibition at Dunedin, Captain Graham said that it had already been announced that the British Government had taken 28,000 square feet of space, and ho has been detailed to discuss the details in regard to this with the officials and make recommendations to the British Government as to what form its exhibition should have. In addition to the space that had been taken by the Government, Captain Graham said that the various trade organisations were placing orders for space. Ho would make his report on his return to England, and would probably return to New Zealand in order to arrange the Government exhibit. He added that the Government was endeavouring to co-operate with the trade organisations that were arranging exhioits. Speaking of his experiences at Wembley, Captain Graham said that the results of an exhibition were not apparent by its balance sheet, but that its effect on trade would be seen in the next 10 years. So it was with Wembley. He quoted figures to show that practically all the international exhibitions in the past 75 years had shown losses on their balance sheets, but their effect on trade had been of a stimulating character. One of the features of Wembley had been the assistance given by various organisations in the provinces, where excursion clubs and propaganda committees had been formed, thus interesting people in the Exhibition. Not the least of the Exhibition activities was the assistance received from the children of the Baited Kingdom. They had been taken through a special course of study on the Empire, culminating in a visit to Wembley. /Is Captain Graham has been only a few days in Now Zealand, he has not formed any opinion as to the country yet, but lie states that he is delighted in what he has already seen. Just prior to leaving for New Zealand ho was introduced to the members of the All Black team at the High Commissioner's oflice, and he has a high opinion of the.ir ability. During the war Captain Graham served with (lie Essex Regiment, having to his credit five and a-half years’ service.