Evening Post. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1885. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND THE EXHIBITION.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 59, 7 September 1885, Page 2

Evening Post. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1885. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND THE EXHIBITION.

It is to be hoped that the conference to be held this evening between the Exhibition Committee and representatives of the Friendly Societies, with regard to a grand Exhibition gathering of the Societies from all parts of tho colony, will result in practical steps being taken to carry out the idea. There are in the colony, according to the Registrar's latest reports, 243 lodges or courts, embracing a membership of 18,813 persons, and certainly the interests of such a large body are worthy of the most serious consideration. Of course many of these lodges are situated at such a distance from Wellington as to render it impossible for any large number of the members to attend any demonstration here. Those in Auckland, on the West Coast, and in the interior of Otago could hardly do so, but if proper" arrangements are made, a very fair proportion of the members of the Societies in other parts of the colony should bo able to attend. If the Government would concede liberal railwayrates, large bodies of men might be brought from Southland, Otago, and Canterbury in the Middle Island, while it should also be possible to arrange for steamers from Wanganui, which should also suit the convenience of visitors arriving there by rail from Taranaki . From Nelson, Marlborough, and Hawke's Bay steamers would have to bo chiefly depended on. It would, of course, be almost impossible to assemble all the Societies on one day, nor would it be worth while to bring them here for a day only. There should be a Friendly Societies' carnival week, with one day, say Thursday, set apart as the main fete day. The excursion rates should last from Sunday to Sunday, and steamers should ply daily during the week between Lyttelton and Wellington, and say every

second day between Wanganui and Wellington and Nelson and Wellington, and two trips between Napier and Wellington should be arranged for. The Hinemoa might very well bo put on one of these services. She would be doing more for the interests of the public in such duty than in carrying members of the Legislature on pleasure trips. The greater part of what used to be the old Immigration Barracks is now used for gaol purposes, but the large wool sheds of the Harbour Board are at present empty, and they could well be utilised in affording sleeping accommodation, while there would be no more difficulty in catering for a lot of Friendly Society people than in doing so for an assemblage of volunteers in camp. We do not suppose that the visitors on such an occasion would be very exacting in the matter of accommodation. In fact the affair would be like a great picnic or camp. It iB not, we think, at all an excessive estimate to say that probably at least 4000 members of these Societies could be brought to Wellington during the week. Many of them would have friends, and would be provided for by private hospitality ; some would take advantage of ordinary travellers' accommodation, and a number probably would bring their wives. Such a gathering would go a long way towards fulfilling the true intent and object of the Exhibition. It would spread a knowledge of the contents of the show, and of what the colony can produce and manufacture, throughout the | intelligent artizan class (to whom the knowledge is likely to be most beneficial) in every part of New Zealand. The Government should afford the most liberal aid to the Exhibition authorities and the Societies in bringing about this result, and we have no doubt that the Union Company and other steamboat owners, will also deal liberally in the matter. The Friendly Societies week in fact ought to be made ono of the great, if not the greatest, features of the whole Exhibition season.