THE BIG EXHIBITION

Evening Star, Issue 18252, 17 April 1923, Page 2

THE BIG EXHIBITION

SITES AND FINANCE COMMITTEES APPOINTED. SCOPE STILL TO BE DECIDED ON. A meeting was held last evening of the Provisional Committee appointed recently in connection with the big 1925 Exhibition project. 'Sites and a Finance Sub-committees were appointed, and there was some discussion again as to tho scope of the exhibition. It was the mayor (Mr Douglas) who moved the appointment of such committees, and also of an inner executive.

Mr S. Solomon, K.C., asked if they were not putting the cart before the horse. Could they appropriately deal with the question of financing such'a scheme without first determining the scope of the venture? The question of financial assistance would depend very largely on tho scope of the exhibition. If they went to the Government and asked tor assistance they would very properly be asked what the scope of the exhibition was going to be. He suggested that they should consider whether the question of the scope of the exhibition should not be taken before the other question was dealt with. The Mayor said he took it that the Finance Committee would go round among tho leading citizms and ascertain what support was likely to l>e accorded to an Imperial or ,an International Exhibition, and present a report to the executive, which would then be in a position to frame proposals for a public meeting. In his opinion the two questions went hand in hand. He mentioned that ho was formerly right out for an International Exhibition, but on the evidence that had been put before him be was now impressed with the idea of holding an Imperial Exhibition. Sir George Fenwick ho thought the mayor had stated the position very clearly, but ho did not think he had gone far enough. One of tho duties of the Finance Committee would bo to find out to what extent it would be necessary to commit themselves for buildings. That would depend on_ the nature of the exhibition. An International Exhibition would requir-e much heavier expenditure. The proposed committee would have the preliminaxy duty of endeavoring to get some estimate of the extent and cost of the buildings Required. Tho committee would also report if it would be necessary to approach tta Government. The success of the exhibition would depend largely on the question of support. ’ He thought the question it should bo an Imperial or an International Exhibition would hinge to a large extent on the support granted by the Government. Ho considered that the Government would grant a £ for £ subsidy up to a certain maximum amount. The Finance Committee would have to take all these things into consideration. Mr D. 11. Hastings said, with reference to the_ Government, that he thought the just thing was for the Government officially to recognise this as a New Zealand Exhibition. If the exhibition was going to bo a success it must be recognised by the Government as a New Zealand Exhibition. Mr W. E. C. Reid said ho thought it would bo a great mistake to deal with but the question of finance that night.''Until a definite policy in regard to finance was laicradown everything else seethed to him to be beside the point. He suggested the appointment of a small Finance Committee to see what support could be got, and then a public meeting could be called and a committee appointed to go into the question of sites, etc. Mr Sargood asked how they could expect support until the people knew what the scheme was to be.

Mr F. W. Mitchell said the public knew quite well what was proposed. He considered that the selection of a site was important, because work must be started without delay. Ho did not think anything could bo lost by the appointment of the three sub-committees proposed. Finance was the first essential, but the questions of site and the scope of the exhibition went band in hand with it.

The motion in favor- of the appointment of a Finance Sub-committee was then agreed to. The Mayor then moved the appointment of a sub-committee to consider the question of suitbale sites and report on all the conditions appertaining to each site. ,The motion was seconded by Mr H. F. Nees,

In reply to a question by Mr Speight, the Mayor eaid the sub-committee would report on tho area, accessibility, and suitability of each site. The motion wis carried.

The appointment of an inner executive was then proposed by the Mayor, and the motion was seconded by Mr J. 11. Walker. The motion was carried. The Mayor nominated the following as the Finance Sub-committee:—Messrs P. 11. Sargood (convener), C. Speight, T. Somerville, P. Barr, R. Hudson, J. Sutherland Ross, James Begg, Edgar. Haslelt, F. W. Mitchell, A. Barnett, J. Loudon, J. A. Johnstone, James Brown, C. W. Rattray, P. Halstead, D. E. Theomin, I. Stevenson, W. C._ Burt, S. Solomon, W. E. C. Reid, and Sir George Fenwick. Mr Sargood said lie felt that they should adopt a definite policy and go straight before the public with it. Mr 11. K. Wilkinson supported Mr Sargood’s view, and said he thought it was time they decided what sort of an exhibition they were going to hold. His opinion was that they should go right out for an Imperial Exhibition. A vote at that meeting would give a good lead to the public. He thought it would bo more in keeping with the sentiment throughout the Empire if they made it an Imperial Exhibition. They should concentrate on improving the trade of the Empire as much as they could. An International Exhibition would require a large site and a greater expenditure of money, and for that reason ho favored an Imperial Exhibition. Mr Theomin agreed, and stated that ho would go a step further. They would want support from the British * Government, and would probably require some of the exhibits from the British Exhibition. Ho thought they would get more support from our own Government and the British Government if they tried to promote trade within the Empire. The Mayor said the questions that had boon raised would be considered by the Finance Sub-committee.

Mr James liegg supported the sttitude taken up by Mr Sargood. Mr A. Harnett expressed the opinion that they were inclined to go too ranch into details. He thought they should see what support they could get first, and then proceed according to the money at their disposal. Mr Solomon said iio saw no reason why the sub-committco should not go ahead and do its work. Until they know what money was available they could not do anything. They all know that it was going to bo an Imperial Exhibition. Mr Somerville said the first question before the Finance Sub-committoc would bo the scope of the exhibition. Unless they settled the question of scope the work would probably have to bo done over again.

Mr Speight suggested that an expression of opinion should be got from that meetjtig. Mr W. C. Burt then moved that it he a recommendation to the Finance Subcommittee that the exhibition should he an Imperial Exhibition. He said the manufacturers had told them that I hey wanted an Imperial Exhibition, and one cf the factors required to make the venture a success was to have the manufacturers of the dominion behind it. If they had taken the New Zealand manufactures out of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition there would have been very little left. If the exhibition was going to be a success that success would be brought about by the manufacturers of the dominion. The manufacturers were unanimous in regard to this matter, and he thought that if the promoters had their backing they would be safe in holding an Imperial Exhibition.

The motion, which w'as amended in the direction of being an instruction to the sub-committee, was seconded by Mr Wiltoison.

Mr H. F. Sincock said ho thought it would bo a mistake to limit the scope of the exhibition without giving the Finanos Sub-committee a chance of going into the matter.

The Mayor said he would prefer a recommendation rather than an instruction.

Mr Begg said it would be a thousand pities if our manufacturers were deorivod of tho opportunity of seeing what was being done in other parts of the world. There were some things which were manufactured in America, for instance, and we had to send to America for them.

Sir George Fenwick said they were not in a position to give definite instructions to the Finance Sub-committee, and he hoped the motion would not be canned The citizens -as a whole should decide this matter. If tho committee passed the motion it would bo usurping powers which he did not think it possessed. Mr F, W. Mitchell said* the only objection raised to an International Exhibition was tho expression of opinion that the manufacturers were not in favor of it. He thought that was taking a very narrow view of the matter, and lie would like to know if there were any other objections to an International Exhibition. Mr Sincock moved as an amendment that tho Finance Sub-committee ho asked to report on the scope of tho exhibition as early as possible. The amendment was carried.

Tho following woro then appointed as the Sites Sub-committee Messrs C. Todd (convener), J. H. Walker, I). Bannock, H. F. Noes, IT. E. Mollor, Or. Simpson. Hugh (Mitchell, 11. Harris, W. R. Hayward, E. A. Rosevear, E. Anscornbe, H. C. Campbell, -and B. S. Irwin.

The Inner Executive Committee was set up as follows ; —Tho mayor, Sir George Fenwick, Messrs P. R. Sargood. C. Speight, J. Loudon, A. Barnett, C. Todd. J. Sutherland Ross, J. H. Walker, H. F. Noes, W. C. Burt, I). E. Theomin, Edgar Hazlctt, E. Anscornbe, and 11. K. Wilkinson.

Messrs Andrew MTvinnon, J. A. Johnstone, and G. Simpson wore added to the Provisional Committee. « On tho motion of Sir George Fenwick, seconded by Me Speight, the inner executive was asked to wait on the Prime Minister in connection with the exhibition on the occasion of his next vist to Dunedn.