QUARTER MILLION REACHED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 29

QUARTER MILLION REACHED.

KINEMA ATTENDANCE RECORD. Shortly after 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon the attendance total of a quarter of a million patrons was reached at the kineina in the New Zealand Government Pavilion, and the lucky visitor—an Auckland lady—was presented with a handsome memento of the occasion. The visitor who topped the total was Miss I. Sincock, of Helensviile, Auckland, who is spending a week’s holiday at the Exhibition, and entered the kineina for the first time. “I tried to enter earlier in the afternoon,” she said, “but there were no vacant seats, so I came back after 3 o’clock. 1 did not know of the contest, and was surprised and delighted when I found I had won the prize.” The approximate hour when the total would be reached was kept secret, and tiiere was no congestion at the kinenia. although the attendance for the day was particularly large and the theatre was crowded when Miss Sincock and her friends entered. The signal was given by the turning on of the lights during the screening of a film, and stepping on to the stage Mr F. Johnson, on behalf of the Now Zealand Government Commission, presented the lucky visitor with a large and handsomely bound book of 35 photographic prints depictiug some of the most attractive New Zealand scenic views. The following is inscribed on the trout of the book in gold lettering—“ Presented by the Minister in Charge of Publicity, on behalf of the New Zealand Government to , the two hundred and fifty thousandth visitor to the Government Kineina at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. 1925-26.” ‘I have been asked by Mr J. W Collins, the New Zealand Government Commis sioner, who left for Wellington this morn ing to congratulate heartily the winnei jf this album on being the two hundred and fifty thousandth person tojisit this kinema.” said Mr Johnson in making the present,a tion. “Mr Collins has asked me to state that the kinema was provided by the New Zealand Government on the recommendation of the Government Publicity BoarJ ir order that the gems of New Zealand scenery and its sporting attractions could be effectively shown to visitors at the Exhibition. “The suggestion that the two lunJred and fifty thousandth visitor would be recognised was approved by the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Publicity, mj he readily agreed to the proposal that the occasion should be marked by the presentation of this album, which contains in per manent form many of the beautiful scenes which have been shown on the icreeu The public has been most generous in commending the moving pictures prepared bv the Government Publicity Department This has been judged by the applause of the audiences attending in this l.trle theatre. It is a source of general satisfaction that the quality of the pictures has compared most favourably with those shown on behalf of other Governments, notably Great Britain, Australia. Canada, and the United States. “The rapid progress made by the department in providing films of educational interest has been most marked during the last two years, and no pains are spared by the Government in maintaining a standard of film excellence in accordance with latest developments in other countries This kinema enterprise, in conjunction with other recent activities of the Publicity Office, has pleasantly satisfied large num bers of New Zealanders that tho Government is giving good heed to the important question of suitablo publicity for New Zealand. “It should be understood that the moving pictures are not merely being shown in Now Zealand and the United Kingdom, but arrangements have been made for their display in other part 8 of the Empire, particularly Canada and Australia. They will be regularly shown in the theatres of tho United States, Canada, and Australia, im mediately. “Somewhat similar Now Zealand pictures were shown in the New Zealand Pavilion

at Wembley during the two periods that the British Empire Exhibition was open, and tho result of this publicity ha* undoubtedly meant an appreciable gain in a general knowledge of New Zeuland. and has un doubtedly attracted the tourist and the migrant from the United Kingdom. The pictures have also been instrumental in educating the people of the United Kingdom in the resources of tho Dominion and in it s unexcelled attractions in scenery and in sport.” After the little ceremony was over, Miss Sincock and her friends took tea with members of tho Commission in the Government reception room.