IMPERIAL EXHIBITION

Southland Times, Issue 19510, 9 May 1922, Page 5

IMPERIAL EXHIBITION

MISSION TO NEW ZEALAND. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May S. A passenger by the Manuka to-day was Mr F. Hiam, agricultural adviser to the British Empire mission which is touring the Empire in preparation for the Imperial Exhibition to be held at Wembley Park in 1924. Mr Hiam was met by Mr J. Collins, of the Department of Industries and Commerce, and Mr F. S. Pope, of the Depuiuuent of Agriculture. He is one of the au.isers to the Secretary for Agriculture in Great Britain, and was one of the founders oi the National Institute of Agriculture and botany which was opened last year by ms Majesty the King. For the last two years of the war he was Director of Vegetat e Supplies to the Ministry of Food. The other members of the mission are Major E. A. Belcher, CB.E., Colonel Christie, D. 5.0., and Mr F. W. Bates, secretary. They will come to New Zealand after visiting South Africa and Australia, in about two months’ time. The purpose of the mission is to discuss with the Government and w r ith interested bodies the part which New Zealand will take in the exhibition in regard to the construction pavilion. the nature and presentation of the exhibits, and proposals for Imperial sections dealing with fisheries, tropical diseases, plants, and animals, and also agricultural research regarding manures, blight, rust on wheat, and plant breeding of every description. The mission also proposes to consider how far the dominions can supply the Homeland with her requirements. “It is hoped,” said Mr Hiam to a press representative to-day, “that at the exhibition the British public will be able to fully realise what their brothers overseas can do. Many conferences will be held to discuss how best to increase trade and commerce throughout the Empire, and much good is sure to result.” It will be remembered that the Prince of H ales, who is president of the executive committee which is arranging for the ex hibition, made an appeal for £1,000,000 guarantee fund. He told a Mansion House meeting that he wished to see this guarantee completed before he left for India, and the result was that the whole sum was found within a few days. Mr Hiam will leave for the South Island to morrow or Wednesday, and after a week there will go north to the Taranaki and Waikato districts.