THE EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18569, 19 December 1925, Page 16

THE EXHIBITION.

FALSE REPORTS ANNOY DIRECTORS. (SPICUI, TO "thk press.") DUNEiDIN, December 18. At a meeting of the Exhibition director there was some straight talk concerning the strangely antagonistic, or thoushtless, attitudo adopted by certain North Island people, including, it was stated, officials of some tourist .bureaux, concerning tho Exhibition. Two or three directors reported specific cases in which would-be travellers to Dunedin had been advised not to come because they would bo unable to secure accommodation, whereas the Accommodation Bureau Committee reported that there was room for 6000 more visitors. ft was stated that a specific case of a tourist- bureau official in. a North Island town who bad advised enquirers asainst coming had been reported to the New Zealand Government Commissioner (Mr J. W. Collins) who had exDressed indignation and his intention to take steps to have the matter investicated. It was also decided to do all possible to make the real position known in tho principal centres. Another matter that had caused a little uneasiness was a report that the Union Co. was "turning down" applications for passages across tho iStrait in the Christmas season. This was freely discussed and the general managcr, Mr Hainsworth, read a,telegram which had been received from tho company in reply to enquiries. This ran: "Yours received. Steamers next week full except IMararoa, henco December 24th special trip to Lyttelton, and December 19th and 26t!s. direct to Dnnedin following week. Ample room except for ladies. Accommodation on certain nights. From early in January ample room." The. fact that the same company yould give no satisfactory assurance to would-be travellers from Australia regarding the return trip was also commented upon, but it was recognised that the "job control" conditions existing perhaps justified tho attitude taken up. "What can we do?" asked Mr Sincock. "Nothing," said Mr Barnett. "They baven'fc risen to the occasion. That's all."