EXHIBITION MATTERS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12532, 29 June 1906, Page 6

EXHIBITION MATTERS.

Th? gathering discontent of tho Exhibition Entertainment Committee with its treatment by the Commissioner, Mr Munro, came to a head last night at the meeting of the Exhibition Executive. The spokesman of the deputation from the Committee formulated a long series of complaints tending to show that their recommendations had been largely ignored and their efforts blocked by tho' Commissioner. The latter replied at length, and then the discission on the matter was taken in committee, the meeting finally passing a resolution to the effect that in tho opinion of tho Executive the discussion ensuing on tho deputation's statements would havo the desired effect in the future. As tho public cannot know what took place while tho meeting was in committee, it is in no position to judge whether the results anticipated from the discussion are likely to accrue. But if tho Executive's view proves correct, as all must hopo it will, the affair will have had a very happy ending. A good deal of the trouble seems to havo arisen through tho Entertainment Committee's beliof that it had larger powers than is apparently the case. In acting upon this belief, tho members erred in ignorance, for it is not conceivable that if they had known exactly how they stood, they would have exposed themselves to tho slights to which they claim they havo been subjected. Tho situation called, not necessarily for "obsequious letters," but for tactful representations on tho part of the Commissioner, and the continuance of the friction suggests that theso wero net forthcoming. At anyrate, difficulties continued to crop up, and the situation became increasingly acute, until it came to a climax, with tho Committee's threat to resign, and their strong representations to tho Executive last night. One is not, of course, familiar with all that had previously taken place between tho Committee andl the Commissioner, but ono cannot help thinking that if tho latter had taken half tho pains to explain matters to the Committee as he did to put his side of tho case beforo tho Executive la-st night, the wholo trouble might havo been avoided. Wo have no doubt at all that Mr Munro is sincerely anxious for the success of the Exhibition, and it is possible**"* that ib is this anxiety that leads him apparently to exaggerate his position. He may, as ho said last night, havo "thousands "of letters to deal with, and hundreds

'of faces to see.'? But he certainly ias not, single-handed, "all tho other

features of the Exhibition to manage,

"and direct, and control." Ho has, in tho first place, an able and experienced collcaguo as co-Commissioner to assist

him in directing and controlling the preparation of the Exhibition, and secondly, ho lias tho untiring aid' of a number of local committees, each composed, as far as possible, of men who havo expert knowledge cf tho matters with which they have to deal. Theso men givo their cervices freely and willingly for the benefit of the Exhibition. They are liable to make mistakes, pos-

sibly to let their enthusiasm run rather too far, but their recommendations are entitled to courteous consideration.

If for somo good reason, such as the refusal of the Government to agree to tho cost of a concert hall seating 2000,

their recommendations have to be set on ono side, they have a right to bs told the reason. For same things, no doubt, it would havo been far better

if the discussion last night had 1 never taken place. On tho other hand, in view of the existing friction, it wa3

just as well that the whole matter should bo thrashed' out. It required a storm to clear the air. We may hope now that tho last has been heard of all disagreements, and that all concerned with tho Exhibition will work amicably together. Much has yet to be done, and the tasks lying before them will demand all their energies, and the exercise of tact on the part of tho Chairman of Commistionera, if the work is to be carried out smoothly and successfully.