AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

Evening Star, Issue 15138, 20 March 1913, Page 5

AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

THE OTAGO COURT. The Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. Wilson) takes strong exception to the opinions enunciated by Mr S. B. Macdonald (Mayor of St. Kilda) at .the meeting of the' borough council on Tuesday night. Mr Macdonald then stated that he was opposed to his council voting a contribution of £l7 8s 9d towards the establishment of an Otago court at the Auckland Exhibition, and, among other statements, voiced the opinion that when Otago was to be advertised those who' got the benefit of the advertisement should pay for it, and that the matter should have been put before the n anufacturers of Dunedin and not before the local authorities, Mr Wilson makes this statement in, reply: Tho Mayor of Dunedin, at the request of the secretary of tho Auckland Exhibition, called a. meeting of representatives of public bodies in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce and tho A. and P. Association, with the view of all district councils and road boards contributing, as in 1906-07. I thereupon called a public meeting by advertisement for February 12, and sent outinvitations to over iOO representative people —including tho Mayor of St. Kilda — at which meeting«a sub-committee was set up to take preliminary steps and see if sufficient support could be received for tho sotting up of an Otago court, and' thus worthily represent the province. It was then clearly stated that the manufacturers would have to be eliminated, as the larger firms had already taken spaces and would prefer to be left out. The idea was to adequately show the natural products, etc., of Otago, and, by confining ourselves to that,. that would be sufficient. Before sending out requests to other local bodies the opinion of the Dunedin City Council was asked for, and the sum of £240 was voted. Circulars have been sent to all local bodies in the district, requesting a contribution according to their rateable capital value. So far we have had favorable replies from the Tapanui, Mornington, Milton, Green Island, and Maori Hill Borough Councils, the Portobello Road Board, and the Roxburgh Borough Council. Ido not anticipate that the St. Kilda Borough Council will endorse the sentiments expressed by the Mayor, as the honor of Otago is at stake in this matter, and there are other duties devolving on public bodies other than attending to the roads. Dunedin may, in the near future, desire to have an exhibition here, and, apart from the benefits that will he derived from an Otago court in the Auckland Exhibition wo ought to dispel any spirit of parochialism and be represented in a fitting manner a.t a cost that will not fall heavily on anv local body."