H. —44.

EXHIBITIONS OVERSEAS. During the year the Department participated in three major exhibitions—viz., the Empire Exhibition in Glasgow, the Golden Gate International Exposition at San Francisco, and the Canadian National Exhibition at Toronto. In addition to the foregoing, arrangements were made for the despatch of suitable display units for the New Zealand Court at the New York World's Pair. Empire Exhibition, Glasgow.—This exhibition was opened by His Majesty the King on the 3rd March, 1938, and continued until October. Although the opportunity was not missed of publicizing the sporting and scenic attractions of the Dominion by means of dioramas, photographic enlargements, &c., and in depicting scenes in the history of New Zealand by a series of mural paintings, it was decided that the best return for the expenditure incurred in participation in the exhibition would be obtained by concentrating on the development of trade with the United Kingdom, particularly with Scotland, where the sale of New Zealand produce has not been so general as in other parts of Great Britain. Accordingly, a comprehensive range of exhibits of New Zealand produce, comprising meat, wool, butter, cheese, honey, hemp, bacon, &c., was displayed, and it is interesting to record that it has been reported that one million samples of the Dominion's primary products were distributed, resulting in a pronounced demand for New Zealand goods at the Scottish retail shops. Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco. —The New Zealand Court at the Golden Gate International Exposition, which opened on the 18th February, 1939, and at which thirty-two foreign nations participated, was on a much smaller scale than the Court for the New York World's Fair, but it was found possible to prepare a display giving a very adequate impression of the attractions of this country from the tourist point of view. The building took the form of a typical Maori dwelling faced with carvings, with palisading around one end and a watch-tower and pataka in the grounds. The interior contained dioramas depicting the glacier, mountain, and thermal attractions, together with a large illuminated map showing relatively the position of New Zealand to Western America and Australia, together with steamer and air service routes. A series of six dioramas showing the progress of the Dominion during its one hundred years of existence was also included in the exhibit, also photographic enlargements and panels of coloured transparencies of typical New Zealand scenery. It may be mentioned here that the opening of the Golden Gate International Exposition was of particular significance to this Dominion, as it is understood that the exhibition-site will ultimately be used as an airport and will be the terminal of any air service between the United States and New Zealand. Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto. —This exhibition is held annually, and this is the ninth successive year that New Zealand has participated. It is estimated that nearly two million visitors view the various exhibits during the two weeks the exhibition is open ; therefore an excellent opportunity is afforded to introduce New Zealand products to the Canadian market and also to advertise the scenic and sporting attractions of this country. The exhibition was opened by Lord Stanley, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, who visited Canada for that purpose ; and during the ceremony a series of messages were despatched by him by cable to the various Prime Ministers throughout the Empire, including New Zealand, and it is interesting to record that replies were received within five minute? of the messages being sent. The New Zealand exhibit comprised displays of goods manufactured in this Dominion, also dioramas of the tourist resorts of New Zealand. One diorama depicting the progress of New Zealand during the past one hundred years received well-merited admiration from the crowds which visited the court. Amongst several interesting features of the display included an illuminated map of New Zealand with the main points of interest suitably marked, also the picturization in dioramic form of a section of a Maori pa at Rotorua, the Maori, his work, mode of living, and general culture. The opportunity was taken by the staff during the exhibition to distribute large quantities of literature on New Zealand, and very useful publicity was obtained. New York World's Fair, 1939.—At the New York World's Fair, which opens on the 30th April, 1939, the New Zealand Government has been allotted 10,000 square feet of floor space, and arrangements were made by the Department during the year for a most comprehensive exhibit. The major portion of the exhibits, including dioramas, photographic enlargements, working models, &c., will be produced at the departmental studios in New Zealand and shipped to New York. It is proposed to depict the resources of the Dominion, its manufactures, the sporting and scenic attractions, Maori arts and crafts, the colonization of New Zealand, and the vast development which has taken place since that date. STORES CONTROL BOARD. The Department continues to be represented by an officer on the Advisory Committee of the Stores Control Board, and in respect of all matters concerning Government purchases of stores the interests of the New Zealand manufacturers are closely safeguarded. Co-operation is at all times maintained where investigation is necessary into local prices, quantities, and values of New-Zealand-made goods. During the year proposals were brought forward for extending the measure of preference now afforded by the Government when considering the purchase of New-Zealand-made goods. In view of the Government's policy, however, in regard to import selection, this matter has been held over in the meantime because first consideration is now given in all cases to local products.

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