THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22801, 29 August 1939, Page 8

THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION

Opening in Twelve Weeks

MINISTER’S REMINDER TO EXHIBITORS (PRESS ASBOrI*TIOK TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, August 28. A reminder that the Centennial Exhibition was to be opened in 12 weeks was given by the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) in a statement this everting. That, he said, was not very far away and should be an indication to intending exhibitors who had not begun the preparation of their stalls and exhibits that immediate action was necessary. Mr Sullivan said he noticed when he visited the exhibition the other day that, while work was very well advanced, evidence was not wanting that there was every likelihood of there being a last-minute rush unless exhibitors completed their arrangements now. He had learned that 65 per cent, of the space in the manufacturers’ court had been reserved. “I am sure that we shall fill the balance of the available space, because our manufacturers realise that, properly to demonstrate our national progress, it is essential there should be full representation of the goods we manufacture,” said the Minister. “In spite of the difficulties manufacturers may be experiencing, and notwithstanding the rush of work they may have in hand, the portrayal of pur national life in its fullest extent necessitates their cooperation.” Referring to the Dominion court, Mr Sullivan said that in this court the provinces had demonstrated what could be done when cooperation was the keynote. Governing the activity of the Dominion court was the work of the combined provincial authorities, and instead of each province having its own special display there was one unified scheme that at once captured the imagination and captivated the mind with its remarkable beauty. The court was designed as one huge diorama, in which the features of the country were depicted. This diorama was the largest ever produced by man, said Mr Sullivan. To the architect, Mr Ronald Muston, to the artists, artisans, and workers, one must pay tribute for an excellent piece of work. The Dominion court was a work of art and a glorious achievement. It was achieved by co-operation, and the complete success of the great national venture would be achieved with co-operation.

The Canterbury Museum will be closed from September 11 to September 24, inclusive, to enable the annual cleaning to be carried out, according to a report of the museum and library committee, which was adopted at a meeting of the Canterbury University College Council yesterday. During last month 1718 children and 55 teachers visited the museum for instruction.

Representation of the Returned Soldiers’ Association on the Canterbury Patriotic Fund Committee is to be increased from two to five, according to advice received by the executive of the association last evening. The executive referred the matter to its emergency committee, which will give consideration to the inclusion of one country member among the three additional men to be, appointed.

Because the agents for the principal adopted ball have been able to obtain licences to import only a portion of the number required, the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association has had to amend its schedule of ball adoptions for the coming season. The Canterbury association usually adopts for all its senior and championship matches the same make of ball adopted by the New Zealand Association for the national championships—there have been strong protests from players oh the few occasions on which a departure has been made from this practice—but recently the association received advice from the agents that the necessary supplies could not be obtained. The management committee of the association accordingly decided last evening to adopt the Spalding ball instead of the Slazenger for the provincial championships and for senior competition and ranking list matches.

A proposal which he said might have some military usefulness was made by the Rev. Jasper Calder in the course of his sermon at the Church of the Epiphany, Auckland, on Sunday night. This was that on some pre-arranged night the towns and countryside of the Dominion should be “blacked out” for half an hour and aeroplanes from the various air stations should be put in the air to see just how visible points of interest to an invader would be. Mr Calder said the Dominion was so far from the seat of the present European trouble that the people here perhaps did not realise what the people of England were suffering and how calmly they were facing the Such an experiment would not only be very impressive, but it might produce a further 1000 territorial recruits within the following few dqys.

A record price of 4s 9d each, or £2 17s a dozen, was obtained for pumpkins sold at auction in Napier. A member of a selling firm said -the very high price was not surprising when it was remembered that rates had ranged from 2s up to nearly 3s 6d each for some time past. Pumpkins, like potatoes, are very scarce this year. The pumpkins sold at 4s 9d each were grown in the Bay View; district.