EXHIBITION OF 1915.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3112, 7 January 1911, Page 10

EXHIBITION OF 1915.

A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF EMPIRE

The project for holding a great nonpolitical Empire Exhibition in Londton in 1915 is rapidly making headway, and at a noteworthy meeting of the Royal Colonial Institute -on November 1-1 the seal was set to this important proposal, which now has the cordial support of the High Commissioner and AgenisGeneral of the oversea. States as well as that of a great body of public men of all shades of political opinion. At that meeting, which was presided over by Lord Strathcona, Sir Pieter StewartBam announced that one strong Imperialist, who desired not to have his name disclosed 1 , had offered to give £SOOO if £IO,OOO further could be collected on the working guarantee list. On the proposition of Lord Blyth, seconded by Sir- H. Ivimber, Lord iSt-ratheona was unanimously elected president. Sir P. Stewart-Bam was appointed chairman, and Lord Blyth de-puty-chair mo n. In a sense (says the “Standard of Empire”) the project has grown out of the South African Products Exhibition in London three years ago, of which Sir Pieter Stewart-Bam was chairman. The success of that exhibition seemed to Sir Pieter to warrant the extension of the idea, and the year 1915 was fixed upon in order that it might not clash with any other great public function of a similar character. The date is one of no small historical importance. It will mark the twentyfirst birthday of the Prince of Wales, the centenary of Waterloo, and the seven hundredth anniversary of the signing of, the Magna Charta.

The main idea of the scheme is that all parts of the Empire shall compete in a friendly way in order to show exactly what can be produced! and manufactured by the Oversea Dominions, and afford, as it were, a bird’s-eye view of the marvellously varied resources of Great and Greater Britain. Prominent public men will, it is proposed, visit ail parts of the King’s Dominions and seek to interest every section of- the Empire in a project- of such far-reaching importance. England,-Scotland, Ireland, and Wales will take, of course, their part in the scheme .and it is also proposed, during the run of the exhibition, to hold congresses on agriculture, forestry, manufactures, shipping, education, the press, and other -matters of Imperial interest, at which representative men will be able to exchange views on all topics tending to the development of Imperial resources and the unity of Empire.

Mr Joseph Chamberlain has written wishing the scheme every success, and so also have Mr Winston Churchill and Colonel Seely, Under-Sccretary of State for Greater Britain. The High Commissioners for Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, have joined the committee, and have promised to give every possible assistance. Lord Strathcona has helped in a great way to get prominent Canadians interested in the movement. Viscount Hill, who iis a member of the temporary committee, went to Canada early in August, and was there able to get many prominent people thoroughly interested in the scheme. The Lord Mayor of London is also interesting himself in the project, and lias joined the committee, and it has been arranged to bold a great meeting at the Mansion House next year, in order to put the whole scheme before the public.