Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 22, 2011 23:50:38 GMT 12
According to articles form the day there was a Exhibition in Dunedin to promote the country and the Empire I believe, and one of the exhibitors was the British Government that brought out a load of the latest things and historic artifacts from Britain. Among them seems to have been an Air Force exhibition. here are some period articles, which are worth a read just for comparison to today's way of life:
Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 20, 23 July 1925, Page 5
DUNEDIN EXHIBITION
INFORMATION FOR MOTOR MANUFACTURERS
IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT SECTION
SOME OF THE FEATURES
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
LONDON, 2nd June.
Although the final plans for the British Government section of the Dunedin Exhibition are not yet complete, it is possible to give some indication of what lines the exhibit will take. Captain S. J. Graham, who was out in New Zealand recently, has his arrangements as far forward as possible, but his scheme entails a certain amount of borrowing from and negotiations with private people and other Government Departments, and consequently he is not, at the present juncture, able to make a definite statement.
The section will cover over 23,000 square feet, the dimensions of the half of the building in which it is to be shown being 150 ft by 155 ft. The whole area will be partitioned off into square or rectangular sections. Through the front entrance one will come immediately into the Central Hall of Empire, one of the features of which will be a frieze encircling the whole hall and illustrating the most important events in the history of the Empire.
Here will be a variety of features all dealing with Empire history and the development of the Empire. At the far end of the Hall of Empire will be a map of the world in relief, with the oceans shown by water, and the trade routes indicated by moving ships. This is to be a replica of that at Wembley, but slightly smaller.
On each side of this will be an interesting naval and shipping exhibit. One section will be constructed as an Old English book shop, the front probably being a piece of real antique, and the interior being stocked with old books and old prints. As a contrast, tome of the best examples of modern printing will also be shown.
Another gallery will illustrate the development of the trade of the Empire, and a section will be devoted, to industrial art. There will be rooms illustrating the costumes and furnishings of various periods in English history, and galleries devoted to the Army, the Navy, and to the Air Force. In this last-mentioned section the evolution of the aeroplane will be shown.
Sir Isidore Spielmann, who died recently, was engaged up to the time of his death in accumulating paintings for the Art exhibit at the Exhibition. The work has not been interrupted by his death, but no one of outstanding distinction has yet been appointed to take his place. It is anticipated that nearly a thousand pictures, the work of representative English and Scottish artists, will be got together to send to Dunedin, besides a number of statuettes.
Captain Graham will be going to New Zealand about 12th August, and most of the material for the British Government section will go with him. Certain interesting exhibits; however, which are at present at Wembley, will have to remain until a later date, but they should be in position at the Dunedin Exhibition about Christmas time.
USEFUL INFORMATION
The Federated British Industries Exhibition officials report that makers of motor-cars are very keenly taking up space, and they are ready to adapt themselves freely to the conditions and needs of the country. About a year ago, Mr. H. F. Batterbee, C.M.G., an official of the Colonial Office, was in New Zealand, and Mr. B. M. Bellasis (Federated British Industries), knowing that he was a great authority on motors, asked him to give an address before motor manufacturers. This Mr. Batterbee did, in a purely unofficial capacity of course, and all that he said was listened to with great attention and interest. There was a representative attendance. For the information of those who could not be present, copies of the address were sent to them subsequently by post.
Mr. Batterbee told his audience that he had made a world tour, and that of all the markets he saw he thought New Zealand offered the best opportunity for the manufacture of British motors for several good reaions:
(1) New Zealand was a very prosperous country; there was practically no unemployment, no poverty, and in New Zealand practically everyone must buy a car—it was almost a necessity.
(2) New Zealand was going in for a very big road programme.
(3) The third reason and really the most important—was that New Zealand was intensely British, and the people would rather have a British made article if it could be obtained.
There wore not many British cars to be seen in New Zealand. Agents of American cars had put about the idea that the British car was not suited for local conditions at all, and that British cars had a narrow track, low clearance, insufficient power, and that the only car suited for the colonial market is the American car. He thought the Dunedin Exhibition was a chance for breaking down that prejudice, and if the prejudice were once mastered he was sure they would find a large number of people coming forward to buy British cars.
FIFTY-FIFTY
Before Mr. Batterbee went to New Zealand, one or two manufacturers privately asked him to try to find out while in New Zealand whether it was a good thing for the British car to have right-hand control, or whether it was really some advantage to have a car with central control, on the ground that the colonial was accustomed to central, control. He put that question to nearly everybody, and he thought it was a question of 50-50; 50 per cent, were in favour of the British manufacturer sticking to right-hand control, on the ground that a certain number of people preferred righthand control, and that from the point of view of these people right-hand control was a good selling point; the other half said "No, the colonial is used to central control, arid the British car should give him what he-is used to." So he gave it up and came to the conclusion there was nothing in it.
Many questions were subsequently asked and answered. Mr. Bellasis has during the past few weeks been turning his attention to the engineering trade, which had not shown very keen interest at the outset. From now on he will concentrate on the makers of heavy machinery, generating plants, dairying machinery, wool-baling machinery, road-making machinery, and so on. This section will include a very fine exhibit of woodwork machinery shown by Messrs. Robinson, of Rochdale.
CONFECTIONERY MANUFACTURERS
Messrs. Rowntree, of York, and Messrs. James Pascall, of London, will be well represented. Messrs. Rowntree, in a letter to me, wrote: "The loyalty of the New Zealand people to British goods is, of course, most marked, and we feel that we ought to do all in our power to help to make the Exhibition in question a complete success. We are at the moment very seriously considering how we can from York contribute in the most effective way to the success of the exhibit, and we shall, no doubt, send the best possible variety of fittings and decorations, not forgetting samples of some of our most popular lines. In the latter connection we are at present endeavouring to produce some special goods for our New Zealand friends, and we hope to have these on view and freely sampled at the Exhibition."
Details of arrangement rest with Messrs. J. Rigg and Company, the New Zealand agents of the firm.
Messrs. J. Pascall, too, intend to make an artistic and effective display, and their New Zealand representative has lately been in London on a business trip, primarily in connection with the Exhibition. At any time visitors from New Zealand are welcomed at the Mitcham factory of the firm, and are shown everything in the process of manufacture. The All Blacks, no doubt, retain pleasant recollections of their visit. There was an impression beforehand that they had already seen so many factories during their tour that they were getting tired of such tours of inspection, but they did go to Mitcham, where they were entertained by the firm, and they all were greatly interested in the output and the plant. Final details regarding the arrangement and display have yet to be decided, but the firm intend to provide a show that will be liked by all the visitors.
Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 20, 23 July 1925, Page 5
DUNEDIN EXHIBITION
INFORMATION FOR MOTOR MANUFACTURERS
IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT SECTION
SOME OF THE FEATURES
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
LONDON, 2nd June.
Although the final plans for the British Government section of the Dunedin Exhibition are not yet complete, it is possible to give some indication of what lines the exhibit will take. Captain S. J. Graham, who was out in New Zealand recently, has his arrangements as far forward as possible, but his scheme entails a certain amount of borrowing from and negotiations with private people and other Government Departments, and consequently he is not, at the present juncture, able to make a definite statement.
The section will cover over 23,000 square feet, the dimensions of the half of the building in which it is to be shown being 150 ft by 155 ft. The whole area will be partitioned off into square or rectangular sections. Through the front entrance one will come immediately into the Central Hall of Empire, one of the features of which will be a frieze encircling the whole hall and illustrating the most important events in the history of the Empire.
Here will be a variety of features all dealing with Empire history and the development of the Empire. At the far end of the Hall of Empire will be a map of the world in relief, with the oceans shown by water, and the trade routes indicated by moving ships. This is to be a replica of that at Wembley, but slightly smaller.
On each side of this will be an interesting naval and shipping exhibit. One section will be constructed as an Old English book shop, the front probably being a piece of real antique, and the interior being stocked with old books and old prints. As a contrast, tome of the best examples of modern printing will also be shown.
Another gallery will illustrate the development of the trade of the Empire, and a section will be devoted, to industrial art. There will be rooms illustrating the costumes and furnishings of various periods in English history, and galleries devoted to the Army, the Navy, and to the Air Force. In this last-mentioned section the evolution of the aeroplane will be shown.
Sir Isidore Spielmann, who died recently, was engaged up to the time of his death in accumulating paintings for the Art exhibit at the Exhibition. The work has not been interrupted by his death, but no one of outstanding distinction has yet been appointed to take his place. It is anticipated that nearly a thousand pictures, the work of representative English and Scottish artists, will be got together to send to Dunedin, besides a number of statuettes.
Captain Graham will be going to New Zealand about 12th August, and most of the material for the British Government section will go with him. Certain interesting exhibits; however, which are at present at Wembley, will have to remain until a later date, but they should be in position at the Dunedin Exhibition about Christmas time.
USEFUL INFORMATION
The Federated British Industries Exhibition officials report that makers of motor-cars are very keenly taking up space, and they are ready to adapt themselves freely to the conditions and needs of the country. About a year ago, Mr. H. F. Batterbee, C.M.G., an official of the Colonial Office, was in New Zealand, and Mr. B. M. Bellasis (Federated British Industries), knowing that he was a great authority on motors, asked him to give an address before motor manufacturers. This Mr. Batterbee did, in a purely unofficial capacity of course, and all that he said was listened to with great attention and interest. There was a representative attendance. For the information of those who could not be present, copies of the address were sent to them subsequently by post.
Mr. Batterbee told his audience that he had made a world tour, and that of all the markets he saw he thought New Zealand offered the best opportunity for the manufacture of British motors for several good reaions:
(1) New Zealand was a very prosperous country; there was practically no unemployment, no poverty, and in New Zealand practically everyone must buy a car—it was almost a necessity.
(2) New Zealand was going in for a very big road programme.
(3) The third reason and really the most important—was that New Zealand was intensely British, and the people would rather have a British made article if it could be obtained.
There wore not many British cars to be seen in New Zealand. Agents of American cars had put about the idea that the British car was not suited for local conditions at all, and that British cars had a narrow track, low clearance, insufficient power, and that the only car suited for the colonial market is the American car. He thought the Dunedin Exhibition was a chance for breaking down that prejudice, and if the prejudice were once mastered he was sure they would find a large number of people coming forward to buy British cars.
FIFTY-FIFTY
Before Mr. Batterbee went to New Zealand, one or two manufacturers privately asked him to try to find out while in New Zealand whether it was a good thing for the British car to have right-hand control, or whether it was really some advantage to have a car with central control, on the ground that the colonial was accustomed to central, control. He put that question to nearly everybody, and he thought it was a question of 50-50; 50 per cent, were in favour of the British manufacturer sticking to right-hand control, on the ground that a certain number of people preferred righthand control, and that from the point of view of these people right-hand control was a good selling point; the other half said "No, the colonial is used to central control, arid the British car should give him what he-is used to." So he gave it up and came to the conclusion there was nothing in it.
Many questions were subsequently asked and answered. Mr. Bellasis has during the past few weeks been turning his attention to the engineering trade, which had not shown very keen interest at the outset. From now on he will concentrate on the makers of heavy machinery, generating plants, dairying machinery, wool-baling machinery, road-making machinery, and so on. This section will include a very fine exhibit of woodwork machinery shown by Messrs. Robinson, of Rochdale.
CONFECTIONERY MANUFACTURERS
Messrs. Rowntree, of York, and Messrs. James Pascall, of London, will be well represented. Messrs. Rowntree, in a letter to me, wrote: "The loyalty of the New Zealand people to British goods is, of course, most marked, and we feel that we ought to do all in our power to help to make the Exhibition in question a complete success. We are at the moment very seriously considering how we can from York contribute in the most effective way to the success of the exhibit, and we shall, no doubt, send the best possible variety of fittings and decorations, not forgetting samples of some of our most popular lines. In the latter connection we are at present endeavouring to produce some special goods for our New Zealand friends, and we hope to have these on view and freely sampled at the Exhibition."
Details of arrangement rest with Messrs. J. Rigg and Company, the New Zealand agents of the firm.
Messrs. J. Pascall, too, intend to make an artistic and effective display, and their New Zealand representative has lately been in London on a business trip, primarily in connection with the Exhibition. At any time visitors from New Zealand are welcomed at the Mitcham factory of the firm, and are shown everything in the process of manufacture. The All Blacks, no doubt, retain pleasant recollections of their visit. There was an impression beforehand that they had already seen so many factories during their tour that they were getting tired of such tours of inspection, but they did go to Mitcham, where they were entertained by the firm, and they all were greatly interested in the output and the plant. Final details regarding the arrangement and display have yet to be decided, but the firm intend to provide a show that will be liked by all the visitors.
