EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1923, Page 3

EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

FINANCIAL ST I! A ITS. [BY TEIiKOItAI'II- -PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION] . LONDON, Fdi. S. \ Lout IJevottsliire s letter sity> that lie proposes lo retiiin the ( liairmauship I»ut to delegate the duties lo .Mr Stev-; etisoii, ns Vice-Chairman. 1 Sir .las Allen lias summoned ii meet- j ill-' the the Mil'll ('ommissionei- lor j Friday, to co-ordinnte their action in reference to the Fxhihition. A special eonunittee ha.. been np- [ pointed hy the Executive Council to; consider Sir \\ . Joyiison ill; !; s re-j port, whereon Sir dames Allen repre-; scnls the Dominions. It holds its first I meetiiip; on Friday afternoon. It is anticipated that this committee will i report favourably on Sir W. .Jo.vnson i Hicks's proposals, although there is a| strong recline against: burdening the j finances villi .Messrs I ravers and j Clarke's salaries. uh;c|i Lord Devon- j shire stipnlaled should he iule([tiate. [ It is assumed they must exceed Mr! Winlotir’s. It is anthontali vely stated | that three-fourths of the Exhibition j funds have already heen expended, and that financial considerations are becoming impernlivc. I’ll ESS ( O.M.AIENTS.

LONDON, Feh. 0. The "Morning I’osl” points out the: difficulties confronting the Kinpire Ex- j hihition are largely due Lo a deled in the imagination id the organisers, I which has proven led them reahsatioii , of its significance to the lynpire. II Canada jnins Ihe sclicnie, tne Doiniu- ■ ions’ share will amount to about , CDOO.ntH). It is pointed out in politi- j cal circles that the pecuniary guars n- . tee has heen vastly fortified by Sir W . i Jo.vnson Hicks’s report, which provides y* additional salo-uard lo those dominant in supporting the scheme. The withdrawal of the British Cavern incut's support would lie an imperial tragedy, because the Dominions and Colonies would lie also hound to withdraw, or to reduce their assistance to ~ minimum. The Fxhihition cannot he run by individuals or by a collcilion of individuals. Therefore, il Mm executive council llottls Sir AN. Joynson Hicks’s report, it will he necessary to legislate to alter the constitution of the Fxhihition. This would saddle the Government with undesirable financial responsibility, but the Government could help, without expending the taxpayers’ money, hy the remission ol tin? c*ntortfiiiinK*iil t«i\, w Inch would represent 02011,001); while the fact of the Government’s end uient and the employment ol the fittest men in the country in charge ol the Exhibition would he worth millions. REPORT APPROVED. , LONDON, Feh. !). ! A eoiifereiiee of dominions and Indian High Commissioners unanimously reeommend the acceptance of Sir Jo.vnson Hicks’s report.