The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1906.

Evening Star, Issue 12767, 21 March 1906, Page 4

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1906.

We cannot blink the fact that the preparations for the International The International Inhibition are causing a ~c r. Munition. +ain amount of fri(^on as between Christchurch and some other parts of the Colony. So far as our observation goes, the faults arc not. all or. one side. On tho one hand, we quite agree with those Canterbury people and ne.wspi.peis who complain that the project is not being furthered with adequate energy and loyalty in Dunedin. The use-of tho word "loyalty" in this .connection is not wholly unwarrantable from the viewpoint of colonial solidarity. All parts of New Zealand will derive benefit, t„ ;l , greater or less extent, from the Exhibition? and we have no sympathy whatever with the contention that it is a Christchurch affair, which the Christchurch or Canterbury folk may be left to manage by themselves. At best this would be a selfish attitude to adopt; but in point- of fact it is foolish and shortsighted. Dunedin was well enough treated by the other centres at the time °of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition seventeen years ago, and those districts which heartily co-operated on that occasion had no cause to regret their friendly action. We desire once more to emphasise the fact that this is a colonial, not a provincial, undertaking. The Christchurch ' Press' truly observes that the Exhibition will "fail in its object unless the Colony as a whole benefits by its existence. Of course, it is only to be expected that Christchurch will secure the primary and chief share of advantage, and we should be sorry- indeed to think that any considerable section of the citizens of Dunedin could be so churlish as to grudge our neighbors their good fortune. There is a good deal of force in the following vc-marks, which wo take from the 'Press': The ultimate success of the Exhibition does not depend upon the proper representation of the industries of any particular city. But to some extent the proper representation of the Colony's propess and resources does. GhrLstchurch itself would probably not be -one penny the worse if Dunedin, Wellington, or. Auckland refused to exhibit—the ' loss would fall on the city concerned, which would inevitably suffer in the eyes of visitors, in comparison with Chzistchnrch or some of the smaller towns. -, We agree with our contemporary in holding that patriotism and self-interest alike should impel manufacturers in all parts of the Colony to co-operate in the task of making the New Zealand exhibits as representative as passible, and we trust that the apathy -which has undoubtedly been too prevalent up to date will disappear without delay and give place to sympathetic activity. There is something more to be said, however. We observed just now that the faults were not all on one side. We are of opinion that the people of Cliristchurcii are not bearing their proper share of the financial responsibility. In this respect they are not copying the admirable example set by Dunedin in 1883-90. The 'Press' k much less successful in combating this contention than in censuring tho indifference of the other centres. The complaint tkit Cliristchurcii is doing little or nothing for the Exhibition is refuted, according to our contemporary, by the reminder that "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 that in some " Oises?. if not all, will only end on the "opening day." This line of argument is almost childish. Our committeemen had to work just as hard and unselfishly at the time of tho Dunedin Exhibition, but the demands made upon the time of a number of individuals did not release the local community from/ the necessity of raising a guarantee fund. We are not surprised that outsiders comment on the appaient contrast between the contributions and the prospective gain? of the inhabitants of Christchurch. An organ and a permanent art gallery building arc among the latter: what arc- the former (apart from the labors of committeemen)?, At the same time, we are not prepared to endorse the suggestion that the Christchurch people might be expected to raise a fund to meet part of the exjtonse incident to the due representation of other districts. It has been urged that assistance of this kind would probably remove 4lie objections entertained by manufacturers in other districts; but the ' Pre%-' aptly observes: The only objections that could be met by such a course would be based on the expense of exhibiting, and in this respect the manufacturer in Christchurch is in no better and no worse position than the manufacturer in Dunedin or Auckland. The wise liberality of the Government in deciding to give free carriage .by sea and Tail to all exhibits, both to and from the Exhibition, places every exhibitor in the Colony practically on the same footing. That is not to say, however, that no financial contribution, is due from Christchurch in other directions. We certainly think, for instance, that the inhabitants of the city in which tlie Exhibition is to be held should make themselves responsible for the entertainment of all representative or distinguished visitors—the guests of the Colony, that is to they .should in-vritufce and main, tain an Inquiry Bureau with, a view to letting all visitors know where they can secure accommodation at reasonable rates. An arrangement of this kind (which need only cost a few hundreds from start to finish) would serve to regulate the

board and lodging tariff'and prevent the extortion which is apt to be prevalent when a city is unwontedly crowded. Let the Christchurch people (who, it is admitted, will secure the lion's share of the benefit) put .their hands in. their pockets and attend to these and a few other matters, and thoy will probably find that their action is not without, effect upon the enterprise of other centres in reference to the Exhibition.