THE EXHIBITION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 10

THE EXHIBITION

MUCH TO BE DONE

UNDER THREE YEARS NOW

THE SITE ISSUE

The appointment of the permanent board of directors of the Centennial Exhibition Company has made the way clear for active preparation for the Exhibition, which is to be opened probably in November, 1939, so that it may be in full swing before the Centennial dates, which vary for different provinces and centres, but fall in January, 1940, for the most part. Therefore there are less than three yeaps for the completing of plans and the making of a multitude of arrangements, overseas as well as in New Zealand.

There is no time to spare, but the directors, when they hold their first business meeting next week as a permanent board, will not be starting from scratch, for inquiries were commenced well over a year ago and a great amount of groundwork has been done. The full directorate, is as follows: — Wellington City Council Representative.—The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop. Wellington Harbour Board Representative. —The chairman, Mr. D. J. McGovvan. Government Nominees. —Mr. J. W. Heenan, Under-Secretary, Internal Affairs Department; Mr. F. Johnson, Assistant Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce; Mr. J. Read, representing Trades and Labour organisations. Shareholders' Directors. —Sir Alexander Roberts, Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, Mr. W. Appleton, Mr. C. W. Earle, Mr. C. Todd, Mr. W. McLay, Mr. J. T. Martin, Mr. C. M. Turrell, Mr. F. Campbell, Mr. R. H. Nimmo. Immediate decisions to be made 'by the directors will be the appointment of one of their number as managing director, the appointment of a manager, and the decision upon the question of site. Mr. C. T. Hainsworth has been acting manager and organiser since the middle of last year. INCLINING TOWARDS THORNDON. The site problem is still a difficult one, but there is a continually stronger opinion that the Thcvndon reclamation site offers more, taking all facts into consideration, than any other of the several suggested areas, some feasible, and some ruled out completely on account of unsuitable location or of cost of preparation. Rongotai does not stand high in favour today. Slum clearance schemes have much to recommend them but fcr the far too great costs which would be involv-d and the physical impossibility of clearing the ground and housing the people who Would be dispossessed in time to commence the erection of buildings for an opening at the end of 1939 or thi beginning of 1940. There are only three readily available areas, Ron£ tai, Thorndon.' and Gear Island, or some other area in the Hutt Valley. Rongotai is out of favour because of its exposed position, though otherwise it has much in its favour, particularly its greater area than can be had elsewhere near the city, and though Hutt Valley areas have supporters, the distance, no matter what forms of transport could be made available, is considered to be a handicap against continued large attendances, for, after jail, the "gates" are not built by the thousands of visitors who come to an exhibition city and make six or a dozen visits, but by the people of the city itself, paying many return visits. In actual fact, the possible sites in the Hutt Valley can be reached by bus or train in less time than is spent in tram travelling to the outer suburbs, but it looks a long way and sounds a long way to people who are undecided. There is no question, however, that such an area as Gear Island would lend itself to landscape work and water surroundings not possible anywhere else about the city. Its claims will be fully considered, but there is always that handicap of distance froni Wellington City and particularly from the eastern, southern, and western suburbs. - ■ POINTS FOR AND AGAINST. The Thorndon site is an easy winner as regards central position, but it has some handicaps also. It is not as large as could be wished —something from 30 acres upwards, depending upon what arrangements can be made with the Railway Department and the Harbour Board —and the holding of the Exhibition there will close the hew waterfront road (from the Hutt' Road and ramp to Waterloo Quay) for a considerable time, while the building is going'up and during the Exhibition period. That is an important factor to be set off against other claims for the greater suitability of this site. Discussions have already taken place with the Harbour Board, and a tentative agreement has been made as to the use which the Exhibition authorities may make of land under the jurisdiction of the board, but a final decision has not been made whether the Exhibition shall have direct access to the waterfront. ACCESS TO FLOATING DOCK. During the last few years there ,has been a marked tendency for shipping to move northwards, and special types of shipping, particularly oil ships, have been concentrated on the northern breastworks, where special facilities have been provided. Moreover, the floating dock is approached by a roadway the full length of the reclamation, and from the Harbour Board's point of view it is essential that this means of access shall be kept open, for a dock without access would be incapable of meeting a shipping emergency. Further discussions are to be held on this question of Exhibition access to the actual waterfront. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT SYMPATHETIC. The Railway Department has met the proposal very sympathetically, and informal discussions have been held. The Mayor announced at the meeting of the directors on Monday that a conference with the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) had been arranged for next Monday. Mr. Sullivan will not now be able to attend the conference, but it is understood that he will indicate by letter to what extent the Railway Department will be able to work in with the Exhibition directors and the Harbour Board.

The land which is definitely available, if this site is decided upon, will be the full length of the wide thoroughfare but not the concrete wharf, a part of the Harbour Board road reservation, for the board proposes to restrict its temporary roading requirements to as narrow a way as will permit necessary haulage, the railway land fronting on the public roadway later to be let as warehouse sites, and such areas as the Department will be able to spare from the railway yards. It will, in the total, not be sufficient to permit of the usual exhibition building lay-out, but by the erection of two-storeyed pavilions and halls a very large total floor space may. be secured. ■