CHOOSE A SUNNY DAY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 20, 10 November 1939, Page 44

CHOOSE A SUNNY DAY

HERBE’S a lot said, one way and another, about this Exhibition. "It's an expense." "It’s an education." "Its an eye-opener." "It’s a flop." ws * * I-suppose it’s each and all these things ‘according to the point of view. It’s not easy to look at a thing so big and yet so detailed and see it for what it is, is it? All things considered, I rather: think it is essential — essential, don’t you, that a little country should reckon up after a hundred years of toil and effort and take some tally of its ‘ worth. That’s how it strikes me, anyway. It’s a solid: basis-something concrete, substantial, on which to build our future performance. Apart from all this, you'll enjoy yourself -and just won’t be able to help it. You’d ‘have to be pretty dull, as persons go, not to be enthralled by fifty per cent. of the interests that await you. Don’t Take Your Children-At First Choose a sunny day-still, and not too hot -for your first visit. Don’t take the children that first time either-it will be kinder to . them and to yourself to get the layout well in mind and act, later, as guide. If you come by car drive round by the water-Oriental Bay, Evans Bay, past the _ Exhibition Hotel and landing in at the main gate called the Kingsford Smith Entrance. That first impression of lawns and garden beds, arched spears and banners, long still pools reflecting the far Pavilion Tower, is well worth while. If you come by tramcar you will sweep in a loop of the main rail and be deposited at. the side gate. This, of course, may be rather more convenient than otherwise, since

most of the domestic conveniences are there -Plunket Rooms, Creche, Playground, etc. The Amusement Park It’s a good start off for the Amusement Park, too. Sharp on your right is everything a pleasure-yearning child could wish forif his liver can stand up to it! In that direction, too, is the Little Theatre. If you ever were a little girl and knew the magic of a Doll’s House this will hold you enraptured. There’s the Tower of London, too, with its jewelled and gorgeous garmentings. You won't be able to get past that. If you felt

Entrance to the Women’s Court, near to the main entrance of the Central Block at the Exhibition the bigger children could be trusted for a half-hour alone on the Roundabouts it wouldn’t be a bad idea to climb the circular stair to the top half of the Restaurant and have a cup of coffee at the great half-circle windows where you watch them. Back to Yesterday From there you can cut through the Manufacturing Industries displays and the Engineering Block (that’s if you can drag the boys away again) and across the long corridor to the Women’s Court. The Loans Collection and_ the. .reconstructed Pioneer Hut cannot help but wake the imagination. You'll find yourself stepping back a hundred years as though to yesterday. None of you-old or young, big or little-will be able to scurry through the Dominions Court where cities are laid out for us like a scatter of child’s bricks yet orderly, accurate, and so instantly recognisable. And if you haven’t seen the Waitomo Caves you'll make their acquaintance there, glow-worms and all. If it’s a matter of education don’t let those youngsters of yours miss the New Zealand Government Court. There is a sunken lecture floor with a huge