The Daily News WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1925. WEMBLEY AGAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1925, Page 6

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1925. WEMBLEY AGAIN.

The re-opening of the Empire Exhibition at Wembley was again a - brilliant function, the huge crowds attracted thereto denoting that interest in this unique display of the resources of Greater Britain is as keen as it was on the occasion of the initial opening last year. Taking all things into consideration, the decision to continue the exhibition for a second year was completely justified Great as were the crowds which found their way to Wembley last yeaf, there must have been , many thousands who failed to pay the exhibition a visit, and the enormous outlay connected with the staging of the exhibits in buildings of a costly character virtually necessitated a second year to give a chance of making the affair pay its way. From a dominion’s .point of view a continuance was most desirable, as thereby the opportunity of driving home the object lessons for which the project was created was one that should not be lost. The fact that the Home Government has increased its guarantee to a million sterling is convincing evidence of the great value which it is considered the exhibition must prove to be to the whole Empire, as well as the stimulus it is expected to give to British trade and industries. As usual, King George struck exactly the right note in his speech at the re-opening ceremony, describing the step as wise and patriotic, and in referring to the exhibition as the University of the Empire, an institution for spreading knowledge, mutual aspirations, capacities and needs, which formed the foundation of goodwill between the constituent peoples on whom the British Empire depends for security and prosperity. This year, however, Wembley is to be something more than a serious educator; it is to be made attractive, presenting lessons in a higher and brighter form, because those who visit the exhibition to be entertained will probably be also educated. It may possibly be considered that the chief point of His Majesty’s speech was when he said that he trusted the exhibition would, at its close, have completed the task of showing the world generally a picture of the Empire intent on the aims of peaceful reconstruction and the careful development of its resources, earnestly seeking peace at home and abroad. Taking the main purpose of the exhibition into consideration, it is only reasonable to assume that in the first yeai* of its existence much good spade work was done, so that , it may fairly be hoped that in the second year there will be good signs of growth denoting a satisfactory harvest. Moreover, the persistency of effort to enlighten the world as tb the potentialities of the Empire resources, trade, commerce and industries ought tb carry conviction that the vast commonwealth of nations is united by common interests and means to obtain as much trade as

possible. There are many side issues, all of which tend to the welfare of the whole Empire, so that, although each unit is naturally desirous of doing the best for itself, the predominant aim is to show the world that peaceful penetration, when carried out on the right lines in the interests of trade and commerce, is a, factor for peace and a guarantee of security. Probably the majority of the visitors to Wembley this year will be attracted thither more to be entertained than to be educated, and the result may be their being subject to both influences. They cannot, however, fail to be much impressed with the object lessons of the resources of the dominions and other units of the Empire, all of which are at their service, and if only they can be induced to reflect on the advisability of trading in the products of their kith and«kin overseas in preference to those of foreign countries, good results will ensue. The more they learn about the countries which constitute Greater Britain the better it will be for cementing closer relationships and that sense of unity which is so essential as between the branches and the main tree.