THE EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 23

THE EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

A great, deal of detail work c-ame before the Dominion Advisory Council at its meeting last week. Air W. S. Bennett presided, and the members present were Messrs T. (). Bishop, F. R. Bushel!, J. W. Collins, A. Leigh Hunt, J. Reid, and A. Seed. For some time a quantity of correspondence and a number of cablegrams have passed between the Government and the High Commissioner relative to the building of the New Zealand court. ffbe council, with (he assistance of a sub-oommittee of architectural experts, hits gone into (his matter thoroughly, with the information available, and has been responsible to tHo Government for submitting suggestions in regard to the improvement of the design in the structure of (he building. The desire has been that while (he building should conform in general aspect to the Exhibition edifices it should have a distinctive New

Zealand feature. Preparations for ronstruetion of the building are now well advanced. the High Commissioner being necessarily responsible now for its completion Information was received from London that only 500 square feet had been allocated New Zealand in the fine arts section, and that preferably the works of living New Zealand artists depicting local subjects should lie exhibited in this section. The proposal was adopted, but it was decided that provision should be made in the New Zealand Pavilion for an arts section in which the works of past New Zealand artists would participate. The Chairman reported (hat he had inspected the collection of birds which was being prepared by Air H. Drew, and that very satisfactory progress hud been made.

It was decided to cable to the High Commissioner and ascertain the conditions, if any. under which live stork would he forwarded to ihe Exhibiiion.

The Council went exhaustively into the allotments of space. It was decided to allocate a minimum of 4500 ft to the secondary industries. The honey producers of the dominion were granted 2,00 square feet-, and other sections in proportion. A sub-eommit toe which was set up to deal with the scheme of modol_ figures and mural decorations for the New Zealand court reported favourably on this.

Mr Leigh Hunt raised the subject of cheap fares from the overseas dominions to Great Britain during the Exhibition. He suggested that it was a matter on which the Chambers of Commerce might very well fake up an active position. 'I he whole success of the Exhibition, as far as the overseas dominions were concerned, lay in the facilities that would be afforded citizens of (lie Empire to journey to Great Britain. It was decided to prepare a letter to district committees suggesting that, all Chambers of Commerce should be asked to give their attention to this matter and express their views. Some very strong opinions were expressed by some of the memlxu-s at the attitude of the shipping eomoatiios.