EXHIBITION DINNER

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 187, 4 May 1940, Page 17

EXHIBITION DINNER

Overseas Commissioners COMPANY'S THANKS Ovej’.seas commissioners at the Exhibition were the guests of the Exhibition Company at a dinner hist night in Hie Exhibition restaurant. The chairman of directors. Mr. Hislop, mayor of Wellington. who was accompanied by Mrs. Hislop, presided and those present included the Exhibition president, Mr. Sullivan. Minister of Industries and Commerce, and Mrs. Sullivan, the Minister of Finance. Mr. Nash, and Mrs. Nash, the Minister of Health. Mr. Armstrong, and Mrs. Armstrong. the Minister of Defence. Mr. Jones, and Mrs. Jones, the Minister of Immigration, Mr. Wilson, and Mrs. Wilson, the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom. Sir Harry Batterbee, the High Commissioner for Canada. Dr. W. A. Ridden, and Mrs. Riddell, the Canadian Trade Commissioner. Mr. W F Bull, the Australian Trade Commissioner. Mr. C. E. Critchley, and Mrs. Critchley. the Commissioner-Gen-eral of the United Kingdom Pavilion, Mr G 11. Meadmore. the Commis-sioner-General of the Canadian Pavilion, Mr. J. O. Turcotte, and Mrs. Turcotte, the manager of the Port of London Authority’s pavilion. Mr. T. R. Toovey, and members of the Exhibition directorate and their wives. The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, was unable to attend, but Mrs. Fraser was among the guests. Now that the time was approaching that the doors of the Exhibition would be closed for the last time, said Mr. Hislop, the directors were delighted at the opportunity of meeting so many who had assisted the enterprise right from the beginning. The directors extended their thanks to all who had helped in making a success of a great national undertaking. All connected with it would feel pangs of the deepest regret when the Exhibition finally closed, as all had played their part in its success. Those who had been concerned in the effort could not but feel that they belonged to it as something which had become very much identified with their lives was coming to an end. The Exhibition had been a credit to the country and, as part of the Centennial, would be an indelible memory in the minds of all. Proposing the toast of “The Government of New Zealand,’’ Mr. Hislop said that the Exhibition, fruit of many minds and many hands, would have .been impossible but for the full measure of support of the Government which had granted £50,000, taken up £30,000 worth of shares and in addition guaranteed the Exhibition Company’s overdraft. Difficulties had been many, but they had been faced and largely overcome. At the conclusion of the Exhibition, about 2? million people would have passed through the turnstiles. On a population basis, those figures had not been surpassed at any exhibition in recent years, though Dunedin had done better at the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition in 1925. Now, toward the end of the Exhibition. everyone was very much interested in the purpose and use to which Hie magnificent Exhibition buildings would be put. He felt certain, though nt the moment nobody was completely committed, that the final arrangement would be satisfactory to all concerned and that, something of national use could be made of the land and the buildings. Na Misgivings. In reply, Mr. Nash said that the Exhibition had been remarkably successful and never at any 'time had the Government had any misgivings about the assistance that had been given to. the Exhibition. Mr. Nash referred to the courage displayed by the directors in deciding to carry on the Exhibition when war broke out, and said 'that the results had more than justified that step. He had visited exhibitions in New York and San Francisco, which had been larger in area, but in outlook, perspective, design and architecture Hie Centennial Exhibition stood pre-eininen't. . Mr. Nash mentioned the united Kingdom, Canadian and Australian pavilions, the Samoa u and Fijian courts, and the Port of London Authority's exhibit, which had alone made lhe Exhibition worthwhile, ana «aid Unit through Hie Government Court. Hie Exhibition liml been able to show what New Zealand could do in 100 years and also the potentialities of the next 100 years.

'Phc toast of “Our Guests” was ptoposed by Mr. Sullivan. 11 was sad to think, he said. I tint, in but n few more hours tlie life and light, of the Exhibition. would be followed by u blackout. The Exhibition, however, would live in their memories for many years to come. The Government Court alone was a miracle of achievement in design and construction and the Dominion Court bad an irresistible fascination ns it faithfully portrayed the country’s geographic features. These and the other courts mid pavilions had helped lo make the Exhibition the most wonderful of its kind in tlie Southern Hemisphere. He wished to join witli the chairman mid Mr. Xasli in expressing the griititieiitlon and the sincere thanks of the Government to those who had come from overseas and who had thrown themselves wholeheartedly into Hie life of the community and‘the Exhibition. Mr. Meadmore said lie had no idea Hint lie would enjoy his visit to New Zealand so much. The Exhibition was a great credit to a country witli such a small population, and on that basis would hold its own anywhere. Tlie overseas commissioners imped most sincerely Him They had played their part on behalf of their Governments in contributing toward the success ot the Exhibition mid apart from that they had greatly admired Hie quality of Hie exhibits. Hie general lay-out mid tlie ii.ppearmice at night. Replying on betmil ot local bodies, Mr. AL F. buckle said that never before in Now Zealand had mi exhibition been attempted on such a scale. For Hie educational opportunities it ollered. Hie people of Xew Zealand would always remain in Hie debt of Hie organizers. because no one who had attended it with Hie eyes of tlie spirit opep could over forget the lesson.s it had taught. , , Replving on behalf of the Dominion Court,' Mr. Charles Todd, depu.tyehairinau of directors, paid a tribute to tlie work performed by the executive of Hie court in furthering the Exhibition. Tlie Minister of Detence, Mr. Jones, lie said, had fallen heir to a grout: bargain, because for about. £75,000, lie was getting something valued at £350.000.

Mr. Hislop remarked tliiiil Mr. Jones would Hurt Hint Hie price paid would bo near £.175.000.