TRADE OF EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1922, Page 5

TRADE OF EMPIRE.

PLANS FOR THE EXHIBITIONS. DETAILS OF THE SCHEME", By Telegraph.—Press Aasociatkrik Wellington, Last Night. •Replying to a gathering of commercial interests Major Belcher, member of the British Empire exhibition mission, said the exhibition would give a comprehensive survey of the resources of the Empire. The idea was originated by fl great Imperialist. Lord Strathcona. It was intended to be held in London, ii 1915, but the war intervened. The executive committee comprised the foremost banking, commercial and industrial intellects of Britain, who, while recognising Imperial principles, determined the exhibition should be ttm by business men for business ends. Royal • ■patronage had ‘been extended and the Government had given its official recognition, guaranteeing £lOO,OOO. Wembley Park was the site chosen* as it met all requirements, including JpWmanency. All Dominion product* from the ports of London, Southampton, Bristol, Liverpool and Hull could be tracked to the pavilion without passing through London or changing lines. The land purchased would belong to the nation. The profits from the exhibition would be used for Imperial purposes, 50 per cent, to go to the Dominions. The British section would occupy a million square feet and firms had provided £l,000j)00, showing they considered the value high to British trade. Major Belcher emphasieed that the! exhibition would cover research wurik, mineral resources of all scientific and applied art, in addition to manufactures, timber and other products. The speaker said the meat position in Australia was much worse than in the Dominion. The Government had made a levy of sixpence a head on to impress "Britain of the necessity of-t absorbing surplus products before the Dominions to absorb Britain’s our-’ plus population. BRITISH DELEGATES 'WELOOMED. TRADING WITHIN EMPIRE. Wellington, July 4. Major Belcher and Lieut.-Col. Christie. members of the mission in conneejtion with the British Trade Exhibition, i were accorded a civic reception in the [Town Hall to-day. | The Hon. Downie Stewart, who rep- : resented the Government, said the aa- ' sistance of business people would be : welcomed by the mission. At a later stage the Government would be asked for financial assistance. It was hoped the advantages of Imperial preference introduced by New Zealand would have materialised by the time the exhibeiioti opened. New Zealand knew what wee to be gained by adopting a policy of trading within the Empire. Major Belcher, in reply, said that if the success of the exhibition rested purely on Imperial sentiment then, ae far as New Zealand was concerned, its success was assured, but it was hoped to impress business men that the exhibition would be a business proposition run by business men with definite business ends. As the result it was hoped to greatly increase New Zealand’s markets.