THE EXHIBITION

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1936, Page 7

THE EXHIBITION

QUESTION OF SITE

SLUM CLEARANCE

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce recently adopted a resolution urging that in view of the Government's expressed intention of clearing away slum areas, and also having in mind the advisability of holding a Centennial Exhibition in Wellington, a committee should be set up to investigate suitable sites, and report on the practicability of certain proposed schemes being co-ordinated.

At a meeting of the council of the chamber last night, Captain S. Holm said the committee had met the Hon. P. Fraser, the Hon. R. Semple, and the Hon. W. E. Parry, and had discussed the matter with them. The committee received a sympathetic hearing. They requested the Ministers to use their influence to have the slum areas of the city cleared away by arranging that the Government should take, under the Public Works Act, certain areas of Te Aro Flat and Adelaide Road, and that one or other of these sites should be used for the Centennial Exhibition.

Mr. Parry replied that as chairman of the Exhibition Committee he could not make a promise which might be at variance with the committee's' opinion, but he was personally favourable to the views which had been.expressed by the deputation.

Mr. Fraser and Mr. Semple also favoured the suggestion and added that they would have further inquiries made as to the practicability of the proposal.

Captain Holm referred to estimates which had been made of the cost of carrying out the respective schemes. A reply had not yet been received from the Government, and perhaps it would be better to wait until the reply came to hand. '

Mr. W. B. Matheson expressed the hope that the committee would, continue its inquiries. The view was voiced by Mr. M. G. C. McCaul that the proposal to clean.up certain slum areas was a highly commendable one. It would seem that if the matter was handled. with proper care there need not be a loss to the city, and there would be a great gain in other ways. He instanced what hadfcbeen accomplished in city improvement at Cologne, Paris, and other cities. There seemed to be a lack of vision here; we appeared to be too keen in looking for an immediate advantage instead of looking to the future. 1 Mr. A. R. Hislop' remarked that it had been urged that there was not time to "arry out the scheme suggested, but additional time could be gained if the Exhibition • was held towards the end of 1940 instead of at the beginning of the year. Captain Holm said that considerable expenditure would be necessary before Rongotai could be made suitable as a site of the Exhibition.

The report was received.