The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25th, 1924. THE EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25th, 1924. THE EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

To attempt any pronouncement upon the value of the Wembley exhibition to the Dominions one first requires to recall the grounds upon which participation, with tlie heavy costs involved, was justified (says the New Zealand High Commissioner, Sir James Allen, in the London “Times”). In general terms, the objects sought to be achieved in tbe exhibition were the promulgation of a wider knowledge amongst British peoples—particularly in Britain

itself, the most populous and most powerful centre oi the wonderful losount.s "I Lritish Empire, pile |.roniotion of inler-Kmpire trade, and the streiigthening of the ties of British kinship. I tun convinced front evidence that has been available recently that the exhibition lias proved the most valuable educational factor that could possibly have been devised. Prom the point of view <.f trade promotion alone we have good reason tu believe that our own enterprise has been far mote than justified. nut perhaps in the actual business done, for tho Dominion did not enter the arena with that intention, but in the advertisement tint Inis been given to our country and its products in the cot ity which is our best customer. Millions of people have had netiml contact with the Dominion; have seen its resources; have learned what it does to supplement the food supplies of Britain—goods produced in soil equally I heir own. by their own kith and kin .’. have seen its bounties and its other nlIrai l joti.s; and have taken auav with them to rend at leisure literature concerning it. Great numbers of specific inquiries have also been aswerotl from these interested in trail'* cenneetious, or who contemplate, even remotely, emigration for themselves or (he voiiuger members of llicir families. The visits of tbe s'liool children, so splendidly organised by the responsible autlioiitics of this country, have caused us t lie keenest sat i.-la'lion. In a fe*.v yens these rbildicu will In' cut rilsled villi tlie welfare of tin* Empire, and the knowledge of the exhibition has given them of its greatness and resources. with some general idea of each Dominion and colony, must, prove a most valuable equipment. One potent factor in promoting the greatest utility of the exhibition has been the ileuspaper Press of Great Britain. As the representative of New Zealand. 1 wish officially to state that thc.se in whose hands has rested the ] over to push the benefits and influence of tbe exhibition to the fullest degree have most ably and generously fulfilled their task. New Zealand is one of the chief suppliers ol lumlstiifls to Britain, and it. lias been a great and unique opportunity to display to tbe people here by exhibit, or through tbe medium of tin* kinema. tbe conditions under which the commodities are produced and forwaided to the distributors in Britain. At the same time British manufacturers and merchants here have been encouraged to investigate the possibilities of placing their goods in. or increasing present supplies to, tin* Dominion. T have not the remotest doubt, from the confident statements of our ('ommissicner. Air A. K. Roberts, that reciprocal trade lias been stimulated. It. is now of the greatest importance that continuance should be* given to this work, 'there are various mediums through which it can be carried on. The exhibition Commissioners have not confined their activities to their pavilions, but have made incursions into the business life of Great Britain in endeavouring to further, as rapidly as possible, tbe objects of flu* exhibition. I can only hope that the efforts they have made will lie continued by chambers of commerce and other organisations with which they have come into contact. 111 New Zealand tho Empire Exhibition lias proved a great stimulus to trade and sentiment. Several thousand of our citizens have been attracted to this country, many of them for the first time, many of them prominent business men. But in the Dominion itself the preparations for participation, the educational work attaching to it carried on in the schools, and the keen interst shown in the course of events during its existence through the medium of tbe Press, have nil had their ellect.