A DOMINION EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 14787, 31 January 1912, Page 3

A DOMINION EXHIBITION.

AUCKLAND OR CHRISTCHURCH? THE NORTH ASSERTS A PRIOR CLAIM. [Special to the Star.] AUCKLAND, January 30. Auckland has clashed with Christchureh in the matter of holding an industrial exhibition next year. This afternoon a meeting was held, at which 20 members of the Provincial Industrial Association and the Chamber of Commerce ware present. The Chairman (Mr Leo Myers) explained that at a public meeting of citizens last year the question of an international exhibition had been discussed, hut not approved. Tho proposal to hold an industrial exhibition in 1913 had been wel! received, and this meeting was the out come.

The proposal was generally discussed, and *orne opposition was raised by Messr? L. J. l'.agnali «-.nd J. M. Mcnnic. Mr Whiiton, secretary of the Auckland Provincial Association, raid ho had received a notification from the Car.terbiny Tndiwtrial Association stating tli.it thai ! association wore desirous of orgr.nuiiij; a i lJ.oinnio.'i industrial exhibition in I'jls, nuiiliiiL! but New Zealand pioduce to be j admitted, ruxl that the Canterbury Association felt that an exhibition in 1915 would be an even gieater success than the Jubilee Exhibition, of 1200. Mr YYhitton also said that he had written in reply stating that it nius-t be tolerably well known that Auckland instituted proposals of the kind nearly 12 months ago, the said proposals being affirmed by a public meeting. His let'er maintained that Auckland lud a prior claim, and that Oh'risi.cinnch should defer its proposals. Ever since April, IJCO, the Auckland industrial Association had bean steadily v, orking with a view to an Auckland industrial exhibition. Mr Dearsley had no doubt that such an exhibition would be advantageous iroin every standpoint. Christclwrcii had held tht»e exhibitions periodically during the last. 50 yeais, and the succes.i there achieved warranted Auckland holding an exhibition. Mr J. 11. Upton said that to ensure success in such a venture as this they wanted more enthusiasm than was apparent up to the present time. If it wero made an Austialian and New Zealand industrial exhibition, as one speaker had suggested, they would have to take into account Mr Andrew Fisher's utterances regarding the trade and even the political relations between the two countries. The Chairman pointed out that the recent Wellington Industrial Exhibition had been a great success. The last industrial exhibition in Auckland, held 14 years ago, had. also been a great success. After further discussion the following resolution was carried:—"That it is desirable, in the interests of industry, that an exhibition bo held in Auckland not later than 1913, such exhibition to embrace any and all manufactures in New Zenland." The motion was carried by 14 votes to 3.