BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1930, Page 7

BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR

PRIMARY PRODUCTS SHOWN. LONDON, Feb. 18. The new Empire Hall at Olympia is the perfect retort to those who are perpetually sneering at the slowness ol the British workman. The architect is Mr Joseph Emberton; and he has every reason to be proud of Iris designs because the new hall is spacoius and dignified and in every way worthy of the best- traditions of modern architecture. . The fact that the construction of this building was only begun in April last year and that the whole of the steelwork was being rolled at Middlesborough last May, is an indication of an amazing pace at which the place has been built. The rate of erection has been 100 tons a day instead of 100 tons a week, which is the usual average for London steel construction. Two floors of the four are being used for the London section of the British Industries Fair, and form an imposing addition to 1 lie Main Hall and the Small Hall. The ceilings and wall are gaily draped with flags and bunt ing, and the royal cypher is incorporated in the scheme of decoration which includes heraldic emblems representing different- parts of the Empire. These emblems form, as it were a guard o' honour on either side of '.the grand staircase which leads' from the ground floor to that above. Polished stainless steel has been used for all interim futings such as turnstiles, rails, doo’ handles and the lettering whhh appears above the entrance, and the re suit is a delightfully bright clean appearance everywhere. The British Empire Marketing Board have a fine central position, and Nev\ Zealand’s site is pat-icularly fortunate

.eing actually at the cross-roads where a sign-post directs visitors to the various Empire 'exhibits. The New Zee land Government has been careful "to make its display representative, bu does not exhibit anything which visitors to the Fair will have any difficult;, in obtaining in large quantities, in faei only established New Zealand exports are exhibited. A' refrigerator with a glass front containing New. Zeal ain lambs was an important- feature, showing two whole carcases and various specimens of cuts which are popula. with British housewives. Wherever possible the veterinary certificate wat displayed, and housewives were urged to insist upon New Zealand lamb when asking for frozen lamb. Fleeces illustrating the best types of New Zealand sheep were prominent-, with labels, attached, which showed them to be Romney Marsh, Border Leicester, Carrie dale, Southdown, Merino and Lincoln, '

New Zealaild honey had ail amusing little exhibit, showing the hive and the busy hoes, and there ware also many samples. Natural opossum wild Otagc rabbit skins were also shown, and amber-like lumps of kauri gum. Otliei exhibits were flax and tinned tongue. The background of the stall showed coloured panoramas of New Zealand scenery and a white-clad girl was making New Zealand bu-tter into twopenn; packets for sale. A group of homesi .l New Zealanders were looking ruefully at the blue skies depicted in the panor anias, for outside Olympia the street' were bitterly cold and snow fell in London for the first time this year. Another and more elaborate model showing New Zealand scenery was a the stall of Anchor Brand Milk Products where Mr J, H. Money, late oi Hamilton, is in charge of advertising and publicity for Amalgamated Dairies. Ltd,., and is responsible for this fin< exhibit. It shows a dairy farm and factory at Mount Pirongia, clouds o shadows of dust driven by a light wind pass across the mountain-side, which is bathed in sunlight,, a waterfall comes down the hill-side ■ into a.

Jain, where a bridge crosses tlw stream from the waterfall, and a road leads from a farm and dairy showing cattle, etc., past the sharemilkers’ bungalow, and a- field where ploughing is taking place, to the factory, which is complete with models of every kind of dairy machinery used on a New Zealand farm. Motor lorries are shown moving along the road and over the bridge, and wild life is not forgotten for there are deer on the hill, and even a few rabbits/