The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1922. PREFERENCE FOR EMPIRE PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1922. PREFERENCE FOR EMPIRE PRODUCE.

The resolution which was passed on Friday last, at a meeting of the Empire Exhibition delegates (at the suggestion of the Hon. E. P. Lee) suggesting that the action of the London management committee of the Exhibition, in negativing a proposal that the exhibition restaurants should use Empire produce, should be reconsidered, on the ground that a very valuable medium for displaying the resources of the Empire had been abandoned, was thoroughly justified. According to a statement recently made by the chairman of the management committee (Mr. A. H. McMahon), the committee has not succeeded in finding any firm to undertake the catering subject to the rigid restrictions entailed by giving preference to Empire produce, but the general manager had been instructed, in negotiating with caterers, “to endeavor to meet the wishes of the Dominions, subject to necessary exceptions such as Havana cigars and French wines. ’ ’ It has to be noted in the first place that both in name and scope the project is an Empire exhibition, and, as such, should be true to its name. When the scheme for holding this exhibition was first mooted it was welcomed by the various journals of New Zealand as being an ideal medium for popularising the produce of the Dominions in such a way as to create a largely increased demand for the produce sent by them to Britain. In emphasising the advantages that should accrue from the project, we particularly advocated the desirability of the catering department being used for bringing into prominence the foodstuffs supplied by New Zealand and her sister Dominions, as well as the provision of stalls whereat samples of produce could be obtained by the public of Britain and visitors from all parts of the world. It can certainly be claimed that if these facilities for practically demonstrating the high quality of the produce exported by the Dominions are not made the most of, the real object of the exhibition will not be attained, and the financial support contributed by the units, of the Empire will be practically thrown away. Unfortunately the old red tape system is so deeply rooted in the Motherland that precedent is worshipped as a deity, and custom slavishly followed. The object of the exhibition should be the paramount consideration in every detail of the organisation, and no vested interests should be allowed to influence the authorities in any way that will deprive the exhibition of even the smallest value as an advertising medium in regard to Dominion produce. If it were being run in the interests of Briish contractors there would be no room for complaint that the bene- ! ficiaries should make their own | stipulation, but such is not the case. The idea of not being able

to find caterers who will not be subject to very essential conditions is too absurd for words. Even supposing that such is the case, surely the Dominions are sufficiently strongly represented in London to take the catering into their own hands. It is only a question of organisation under competent leadership, and it is extremely probable.that the adoption of such a course would be most desirable both for the producers and the consumers. The various Governments of the Dominion should not allow a unique opportunity of this kind for familiarising the British publie with colonial beef, mutton, lamb, pork, butter, cheese, and other foodstuffs, to be lost, and if the exhibition is not to he carried out on lines calculated to advance the in terests of the Dominions, then the question of withdrawing support should be seriously considered. The matter is one that needs firmly handling.