EXHIBITION PROJECT

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 41, 12 November 1937, Page 6

EXHIBITION PROJECT

Mr. T. C. A. Hislop Visits Palmerston North ASSURANCE OF SUPPORT Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, November 11. “We are asking for your support bepf]ii6?p it is «i national undertaking, said Mr T. C. A. Hislop, mayor of Wellington and chairman of directors of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition .Company, when addressing a meeting of representatives of local bodies and business firms m Palmerston North to-day on matters relatin- to the exhibition. The meeting was “convened by the mayor of Palmerston North, Mr. A. E. Mansford. Mr. Mansford oaid he could assure Mr. Hislop of the support of the district for the exhibition. The Palmerston North City Council had already shown its financial confidence. Mr Hislop said the exhibition was not in any sense a Wellington effort; it was in the fullest sense a national project. The Government had decided that there should be local celebrations throughout New Zealand, but that Wellington should be the site for the exhibition because ot its convenience and central position. He had come to ask delegates for support from the organisations they represented. The Government had promised a £1 for £2 subsidy up to £50,000, and already the company had qualified for £45 000 and within the next few weeks would qualify for the total. In addition, the Government had offered a loan of £25.000, free of interest, making a total of £75.000. The company had raised £9O 000, and within the next week or so it was expected that the total would reach £lOO.OOO. . “The exhibition is going to be the biggest thing of its kind south of the line, said Mr. Hislop. ‘That may sound an exaggeration, but it is not when you consider the floor space, the buildings to be erected, and the various devices for amusement.’’ The general manager of the company, Mr C. P. Hainsworth, said the Dunedin exhibition was attended by three millions and a half people, and it did not have the same national appeal as the centennial exhibition. There was every reason to estimate on a conservative basis that the coming exhibition would be attended by five million people. There was a reasonable chance of investors receiving back 20/- in the pound.