THE BIG EXHIBITION

Evening Star, Issue 18331, 19 July 1923, Page 4

THE BIG EXHIBITION

INTERNATIONAL OR IMPERIAL?

DUNEDIN ORGANISATION'S ACTION

CRITICISED.

“ A DISGRACE TO THE / DOMINION.” _

ENCOURAGING FOREIGN COM-

PETITORS,

[Special to the ‘Star.*]

CHRTSTCHURCH, July 19. The decision of the Industrial Association of Otago to make the industrial exhibition in that city international instead of Imperial was strongly commented on at last night’s meeting of the Canterbury Industrial Association.

A letter was received from tho Otago Association giving the result of the vote favoring an international exhibition.

The Chairman (Mr -TV. J. .Tonkin) said ho did not think tho people of Dunedin realised what they were doing. He considered it a disgrace to tho dominion that there should ho people who would act as tho Dunedin organisation was acting. Ho referred to a cable which appeared in tho evening papers in reference to the_ groat activity of the Gorman factories in turning out goods of all descriptions. Ho considered by encouraging these manufacturers to send their goods to tho dominion the Dunedin organisation was assisting unemployment here, and was in this way tailing the bread out of tho children’s months. Mr E. Archibald said he hoped that tho Christchurch Association _ would stand firm for an Imperial exliihition, and not countenance the _ proposal to support ono of an international character. . ...

Mr Woodroffo said that tho decision of tho Dunedin Association was not so strong as it appeared to ho. The Otago Industrial Association had a membership of about 100, yet only thirty-sis voted in favor of an international exhibition. Although he condemned the attitude of that body, he thought that other associations might have to exhibit at Dunedin in order to _ protect themselves against outside exhibits. The Chairman said that tho people of tho dominion were already committed to an expenditure of £60,000 in respect of tho British Empire Exhibition, possibly £IOO,OOO. Yot tho Dunedin Association was encouraging foreign competitors to exhibit their good? in the dominion. " Mr Holland said that he had received a price list of Gorman washerlcss taps, which could bo supplied at 25s per dozen, f.0.b., less 5 per cent, and less 2) per cent. If not less than two gross lots were bought tho price would he reduced to 22s 6d, and for larger quantities. it would he still further reduced. Tho taps were really worth 7s or 8s each. It was decided to send a letter of protest to tho various dominion associations, and also to the Prime Minister and the Hon. W. Downie Stewart.