THE EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 12765, 19 March 1906, Page 6

THE EXHIBITION.

[Special to the Stab.] CHRISTCHURCH, March 19. ' The ' Press' laments a tendency in other cities to speak of the Exhibition as a " Christchurch Exhibition," and to overlook the fact that it was not a colonial or intercolonial, but an international exhibition, in which New Zealand, if she is not to be swamped by other countries, must make her mark. Christchurch had no more to do with the selection of Hagley Park as a site for the Exhibition than Dunedin had, and surely there is no possible ground for local jealousy. 'lt says: "In fact, of all the cities, Christchurch was the only one that afforded within its boundaries the necessary area for the undertaking. The city may benefit to a certain extent from the Exhibition being held here—we sincerely hope it will; but with eqjuaJ sincerity we trust that it will not reap all the advantage. The Exhibition .will fail in its object unless the colony as a whole benefits by its existence." The 'Press''thinks it highly improbable that Christchurch will adopt the suggestion of raising money to assist exhibitors from other parts of the colony. "As for the contention that Christchurch people are to give nothing in return for any benefit conferred on them by the Exhibition, we can only hope that they will be able to agree with that statement at the close of the Exhibition. But if the citizens manage to escape the almost inevitable temporary rise in the cost, of living, which has already made itself apparent in the matter of house rent, it must not be forgotten that a large number of them have for several months been giving their services to the work of arranging and carrying out the innumerable details connected with the approaching Exhibition. The tasks allotted to the various committees make demands upon the time and energy of some 300 individuals, none of whom receive a penny for duties, and that in some cases, if not in all, will only end on the opening day. Under the circumstances it is hardly fair to say that Christchurch is doing nothing for the Exhibition."