H.—44

New Zealand hemp and hemp products provided good material for display, and it was possible to make the exhibit attractive both to those commercially interested and to the general public. A considerable number of inquiries were dealt with, and the inquirers were put in touch with the commercial houses dealing with this product. An excellent display of grains and seeds clearly showed the Dominion's production in these lines. The kauri-gum exhibit attracted considerable interest. A most satisfactory exhibit was provided by the exporters of rabbit-skins. This exhibit included specimens in all stages of manufacture, from the dried skins to the finished articles. The display of sporting trophies was probably one of the greatest attractions in the New Zealand Pavilion, and this exhibit has been commented upon as being entirely the finest of its class that has ever been brought together anywhere in the world. The excellent collection of stags' heads and sporting-fish was attractively displayed. During 1925, when a comprehensive scheme for placing the Dominion's tourist attractions before the public was adopted, much interest was evidenced in the varied scenic beauties displayed by means of dioramas and illuminated transparencies. The slogan adopted, " New Zealand, a pocket edition of the world, containing the lakes of Italy, the alps of Switzerland, the fiords of Norway, and the thermal regions of New Zealand," had the effect of bringing directly under the notice of visitors the extraordinary variety of tourist attractions to be found in the Dominion. The interviewing officers found, however, that New Zealand is generally regarded as being too far from the United Kingdom to attract from the Home-land tourists in any considerable numbers. During the period of the Exhibition many distinguished visitors attended the New Zealand Pavilion, and it is of interest to enumerate the following : Their Majesties King George and Queen Mary, the King and Queen of Denmark, and the Queen of Spain; Their Koyal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Prince Henry, Princess Mary, the Duke of Connaught, Princess Beatrice, Princess Helena Victoria, and Princess Purachatra (Siam); some of the ruling princes of the Malay States and chiefs of West Africa ; all of the leading politicians and public men of the United Kingdom. His Majesty King George paid two visits to the Pavilion, and Her Majesty Queen Mary several visits. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, as the respective Presidents of the Exhibition in 1924 and 1925, were frequent visitors. At the conclusion of the 1925 session on the Ist November, the work of demobilization was immediately proceeded with. Many of the exhibits were packed for return to the Dominion, and of those privately owned practically all have now been returned to their owners. A large number of the New Zealand exhibits were handed over on loan, through the High Commissioner, to the Director of the Imperial Institute, where the display of New Zealand's arts, crafts, and products has been extended and greatly improved. Although the accounts have not yet finally closed, there are now only minor entries to be passed, and a close approximation of the cost can be arrived at. The whole of the subsidy of £30,000 offered by the Exhibition authorities to the New Zealand Government in consideration of participation in the 1925 session was duly received by the Government. Up to the 31st March, 1926, the net expenditure for the two seasons amounted to £106,596. Certain recoveries and expenses still to be dealt with will leave the final net cost at approximately £105,800. The following is an estimated apportionment of the net cost as between the two sessions of the Exhibition : 1924, £95,250 ; 1925, £10,550. It is generally recognized that the benefit to the Dominion from participation at Wembley cannot be measured in terms of money. The enterprise must be considered as a national advertising and educational effort, and from that point of view there can be no doubt as to the good results achieved. NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION, 1025-26. The Department has been closely associated during the past year with the general management of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, which was opened by His Excellency the GovernorGeneral on the 17th November, 1925. The New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company (Limited), with a nominal capital of £100,000, of which £82,651 was subscribed and fully paid up, was responsible for the project. This company was financially assisted in its great national work by the New Zealand Government, which subsidized the undertaking to the extent of £50,000, and advanced loans up to £55,C00, which were duly refunded by the company. It is particularly interesting to note that of the £82,651 paid-up capital, £61,232, or 14s. lOd. per £1 share, is expected to be returned to the shareholders. The magnitude of the Exhibition may to some extent be gauged by the following interesting facts and figures : The total area of the site was 65 acres, the buildings alone covering 15 acres. The Amusement Park, which proved to be most attractive to visitors, constituted an area of 25 acres, and the sports-ground covered about 6 acres. The excellent Festival Hall, with seating accommodation for 2,300 persons, and its grand dome, was a fitting background to the very artistic and spacious Grand Court, the chief central feature of ornamentation, with the fine set of Exhibition buildings cm either side. The only permanent building was the Art Gallery, which it is understood will be retained by the city for the same purpose for which it was built. The famous Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Military Band of forty performers was brought out from Britain by special permission of the War Office. This attraction was much appreciated by the 3,200,000 visitors who attended the Exhibition. Government departmental participation involved this Department in a large amount of detailed work in the organization and administration of the Government Pavilion (No. 5 building). In all twenty-one Departments took part and prepared exhibits, which, within several buildings, took up

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