CRITICISM RESENTED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 10 February 1926, Page 10

CRITICISM RESENTED

MAYORS AT VARIANCE

i WELLINGTON'S DISPLAY AT b-i" EXHIBITION.

/* |ln pointing out that the eommitsjtee responsible for the Wellington''■Nelson - Taranaki - Hawkes Bay

Court at the New Zealand and I South Seas Exhibition welcomed i any criticism for the improvement |. of the court, Mr. J. B. Simpson [ (chairman of the committee) stated to-day that, in view of the ■ apathy shown in the Manawatu ■ 'district, he considered it bad taste 'j on the part of the Mayor of Pal- *■ aierston North (Mr. F. J. Nathan) / to publicly criticise the-work of f the committee.

I When the question of "Wellington representation at the Exhibition was first trader notice, some twenty local business men, Mr. Simpson stated to a ♦*Poit" reporter, collected among themselves a sum of £150, and obtained the service* of an organiser. The idea was to obtain moneys for the purpose of .placing a provincial court in the Exhibition which would do. credit to the province. "The organiser," he ■aid,, "met with varied success, mostly 1 with apathy. He had the utmost difficulty in creating interest, and in Palmerston North he failed utterly to pouse the people whom it was expected would be interested, with, the exception e£ the Manawatu County Council. It is, of course, a well-known fact that nobody realised the extent of the Exhibition in the early stages of the preparation, this being more particularly the lease in. the North Island, Support, however, was forthcoming later on from various parts of the province to be covered by the court, but the endeavour to make the Palmerston Nor^h Borough Council and citizens visualise the extent of the Exhibition was unsuccessful. With the exception of one citizen, they made no contribution at all. We found one man in Palmerston North to appreciate the situation. He installed a flax exhibit at his own expense, and donated £25 towards the Exhibition expenses. Several members of the committee went to Palmerston North at their own < expense,: but all that the committee received for its trouble was a debit of £10 from Palmerston Norfh, this < amount being made «p of expenses in calling meetings. - A BROAD VIEW. "Despite the attitude of the Palmeriton North people," Mr. Simpson continued, '^the Wellington eommitteje took a broad view of the matter, and has in. every way given Manawatu' •qua! prominence in the court to those Who have contributed their quota. The commissioner in charge of the court has instructions to give all possible information concerning Manawatu to inquiring visitors." Mr. Simpson recalled that, quite recently a visitor to New Zealand had made a statement that Palmerston North did not appear to be on the map. "This committee gave them a chance to put themselves on the nap,. but they lost it through the apathy of the Borough. Council and pub-lic-spirited men.

"We set out with a definite object, but funds were go difficult to get that jthe committee decided to play safe and cut its coat according to its cloth. •JThe result was that the Wellington Court, although one of the best in the Exhibition, could have been made still tetter if tae Manawatu people had realised the importance of the occasion and contributed their quota in keeping .with other local' bodies. Considering the absolute apathy of the Manawatu citizens, it shows bad taste on Mr. F. J. Nathan's part to publicly critieis) the work of the committee. The commit[tee welcome* any criticism for the improvement of the court, h,ut so far nobody has> come forward with any suggestion! whereby the court would be improved. However, it is very interesting to ;note that the Mayor qt Wellington (Mr. Norwood) has commented , yery favourably on ; the court, and is quite satisfied with whrt has been dona .with the limited funds at the disposal pf the committee. >. ' ji ANOTHER ANSWER. r *'An effective answer to the critics Is found in the following communicaI Jion received from Mr. J. W. Collins, of the Department of Industries and Commerce: 'I have pleasure in informing you that the Government of "Hew Zealand has deciied to maka a dis■play at the Canadian National Exhibition to be held at Toronto in August, ,1926. Thitf exhibition, whilst open for :;a fortnight only, is visited by approximately' 200,000 people daily, and it is .(desired by the Government to'make an interesting, and educational Might I ask from your comiiinittee the loan of certain of the mural j jflecorations and other exhibits considerped suitable for use at Toronto? It i >rould be greatly appreciated if' the panels of the City of Wellington and [the model of Wellington Harbour could be secured for the' purpose. Will you Jrindly- inform me at your earliest : convenience whether this request can be Seceded to, it being understood that is. required should be available at the close of t j New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, and be shipped to Toronto and returned without expense to your committee.'" Mr. Simpson added that the mural (decorations were considered equal to jthose of the British Court, which were jthe best in the Exhibition. The Commissioner of the British Court was so impressed with the work of the artist .engaged by the Wellington Committee jthat he secured his services to finish off ,the mural decorations of the British Court, which were damaged in transit. ,The Wellington Committee, Mr. Simp■on. further stated, went straight out for the educational factor rather than Jhe spectacular.