THE EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 18817, 16 December 1924, Page 6

THE EXHIBITION.

Pp.kitv certainly it would be incorrect to say that the decision of the Exhibition directors, recorded in our columns of yesterday, to go rigid- ahead with their big enterprise notwithstanding tho intended reopening of Wembley, has been received with general relief by this community. Tho great majority of the community, we believe, never viewed it as a serious possibility that the Dunedin Exhibition could be postponed. There had been too much work done, too much zeal aroused, and too many commitments made during the previous twelve months to make that appear as a practicable, much leas a desirable suggestion. Tho direct addition to tho cost of the scheme would have been substantial, but that probably would have been the least disadvantage of deferment. It would have been too much like taking one’s cake, half cooked, out of the oven, and putting it hack later after the fire had gone down. Such a course would bo fatal to the cuko, and the equivalent of it might be as bad for an Exhibition. But the issue has been a real one for the directors, who have doubtless had to consider it in more bearings than arc dwelt on by tho man in the street, and to consider it, not alone as affecting their own interests, but as it might affect tho convenience of the New Zealand Government. That Government is pledged to the support of the Dunedin Exhibition; it did its best this year for Wembley. But it might easily be disposed to view as something like an embarrassment of enterprise the prospect of exhibiting, on its largest scale, at two shows at once.

The question has now been decided, and decided, almost everyone must think, in the best manner. The Dunedin Exhibition is to go on without any delay. No tools are to bo laid down and left to rust, to bo picked up in a year’s time when ardor has cooled. If there are risks of some disadvantages being suffered by our Exhibition through its close following of Wembley, it is easy to believe that the risks would be greater in postponement. The directors, at the last, must have had small doubts upon that point, or they would not have settled tho question before waiting for the counsel of their manager, duo to arrive from tho Old Country via America next week. Tho effect of Wembley on tho Dunedin show may be inappreciable. They will be 14,000 miles apart. Wembley will be over before this Exhibition begins; if its extension should be for a shorter period than six months it may bo over in tirno for exhibits to arrive from there before our opening day. If that docs not happen, it is a reasonable expectation that a large proportion of British manufacturers who have heavy exhibits at Wembley will send lighter ones to New Zealand of a different kind. Probably tho exhibits that would bo sent hero would be different in any circumstances. And tho British Government has already taken space. Altogether tho prospects for our Exposition of 1925-25 are as good as they could reasonably ba expected to be a year before tho time.

They will be better now that tho suggestion of postponement has been definitely rejected and can bo forgotten. Nothing is more discouraging to a great effort than tho uncertainty which has existed during tho past few weeks. Probably there were not many workers for tho Exhibition who believed that there was more than the slightest chance of its being at this stage put of!, but in such a case oven the smallest uncertainty is bad. Insensibly it causes zeal to bo dimmed and energies to bo relaxed. That bad influence will no longer affect our Now Zealand project. All workers for it can go on now-, immune from the enfeebling misgiving as to whether there is any real need for hurry or not. Their best pace will ba needed for tho Exhibition to be opened in tho glory which it should have in November next. A question which the directors might consider is whether they cannot do more than appears to have been so far done by them for tlu attracting of foreign State courts. The United States, apparently, will not exhibit as a Government, but Japan has been making inquiries, and there should be hopes of France. These foreign official courts, which would add immensely to the variety of our Exhibition, will not be affected by the continuance of Wembley, as they do not come within tho Wembley scope. This is a matter in which tho influence of the Now Zealand Government should be of tho greatest assistance to tho Exhibition promoters.

The directors of tho New Zealand and South Soas Exhibition Company held a special meeting at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon to further consider tho question of postponing tho Exhibition, and in about three-quarters of on hour they finally disposed of tho subject by deciding to carry on with tho original arrangements for opening m November of next year. Tho announcement that there would be no postponement appeared in tho late city edition of tho * Star' last evening, and it was received with general satisfaction as tho best item of tho day’s news.

An Auckland Press Association telegram states that the Pakeha arrived with 653 immigrants after an uneventful voyage, except that on November 20 a seaman named J. Baskott fell from a derrick and sustained injuries from which he died.

The Hon. W. H. Stewart, Being asked this morning whether the _ New Zealand Government will continue its representation at Wembley, said it was practically certain that our’ pavilion there will be reopened, but the Government has made arrangements with a view to making sure that-the Exhibition at Logan Park will bo prejudiced as slightly as possible. There are many New Zealand exhibits at Wembley that can bo duplicated at Dunedin.

The Native Land Department has purchased the Cosmopolitan Club Building at Gisborne for £5,250 for the purpose of a Native Land Court.—Press Association.

The rumor about town that the local woollen mills are discharging a largo number of employees is an exaggeration of Iho facts. The" true position may bo thus staled: Last winter tho weather was very mild, so there was not the usual demand for wool ion winter goods. As a result, tho warehouses and shops are carrying stocks of heavy goods that will be available for next ’winter. Couplo that fact with the other important facts that wool is at present at peak prices, and that when wool is very dear it is obviously inadvisable to manufacture on a large scale, and it will be readily understood that the New Zealand mill owners are compelled by common business considerations to somewhat reduce tho number of hands. But it is ascertained on inquiry that tho reduction so far as Dunedin is concerned is not on a largo scale. At the Roslyn Woollen Mills, tho largest concern of the sort in Otago, the reduction amounts to only about 10 por cent., or between sixty and seventy, mostly girls, and they have been notified that if they possess tlio qualifications most of them will have an opportunity of being taken on after tho holidays in tho firm’s other factories. The Mosgiel Woollen Company has so far not put oif any hands, tho required reduction for the present being oHeeled bv not taking on now workers to fill tho places of those who arc voluntarily retiring. About £1,700 is still wanted to finance tho Dunedin soldiers’ memorial, but it is understood that there is every probability of the work being started shortly after the holidays. It would bo a nice finish-off to the public appeal if seventeen citizens quietly came together and presented tho city with a Christinas box of £IOO each.

Messrs Eraser and Co. have received the following cable from London ro price of cits: —Rotorua shipment: A grade roabsod 24a 8d and B grade 23s per ten dozen. When these eggs left Dunedin the local price was only Is 2d per dozen, and sales were dilfioilt to effect. After all expenses are paid tho producers will nett Is s',d for all eggs shipped on this boat. New Zealand eggs have established themselves O', the London market, and poultry farmers can look to the future with confidence. An Association message from Wellington states that an outbreak of infantile paralvsis has occurred at Potorie, and stringent precautions aro being observed to prevent it developing. A five-roomod dwelling at Blenheim was gutted bv fire last night. Nothing was saved. The insurance was £SOO on tho house in the Standard Office; the furniture was uninsured. —Press Association.

A Press Association message from Gisborne states that when tho Harbor Board's new dredge was leaving Melbourne the Commonwealth authorities completed the dismantling or the buckets and ladder, and these had to be shipped to New Zealand by another vessel. The Government is now claiming duty on this material. Tho board urges that, as part of the dredge, it should not under tho circumstances bo assessed.

TJio summer is now sufficiently advanced to warant Central Otago orchaixlists in declaring that it is going to bo a really good seasoi for fruit. Three copious rains in the spring set (in prospects fair, and the weather since then lias been favorable. A grower who was in town today says Unit there is sure to be a good crop of plums, that the yield of peaches is likely to lie quite extraordinary as to weight and very early, and that everyone sees evidence of its being a good pear year. As to apph s, it is noticed that trees which bore heavily last season ani v.ero ihinncd are now bearing but moderately well, and that those which carried a poor crop last year are now well laden,, That experience is pretty general from Roxburgh to Earnscleugh. In many orchards the apples are nn.v ns big as lien's eggs, and Beauty of Bath lias done so veil that (ho picking for market will begin immediately after Christinas. The one anxiety the Central orehardists have this season is how to get rid of goose grass and the barley grass and other giowlhs Unit have come up knee-high on ground that could not be kept clear.

In connection with the suggestion made in those columns on Saturday that cigarettes should be sent to “ Ephy ” White, Mr Charles Vnudei made an appeal at the Princess Theatre last evening on his behalf. Tins were placed at the exits, and at half-time and the conclusion nf the performance the male members of the audience made sundry contributions of cigarettes and money. “ Ephy ” left for the Salvation Army Home at Christchurch yesterday. The Princess Theatre appeal i’s not inappropriate, for Ephy was for years a handy stand-by for theatre people seeking topical allusions.

An Auckland Association message states that the University College Council lias agreed to contribute £SO. the, same as the Otago, Canterbury, and Victoria Colleges, towards the cost of the tour of Sir Ernest Rutherford in Australia being extended to New Zealand.

About eight women’s societies were represented at a meeting hold last evening in Mr E. Anscombo’s board room for (ho purpose of discussing a scheme for nn Exhibition rest room. The meeting was arranged by the Women’s Citizens’ Association. Miss M. I. Fraser presided, and there was about twenty ladies present. In the course of the discussion it was mentioned that the Young Women’s 'Christian Association had promised to givo substantial assistance, and that Mrs Hudson had undertaken to organise a concert. Miss Begg laid before the meeting what the Young Women’s Christian Association had discussed, and stated that it was prepared to givo the services of a secretary and organiser at its own expense. The association would pay the salary for a year. Some discussion followed for the sotting up of a committee and whether it should represent the women of Dunedin or the women’s societies of Dunedin, and the latter course was finally decided upon. From the tenor of tho discussion the intention evidently was that tho com mitteo to bo formed should be a provisional one, that it should confer with tho Exhibition authorities, gather all tho information possible, and place something definite before (another meeting to be called early next year. The committee appointed consisted of Miss _ Fraser, Mrs Leech, Miss Rnnciman, Miss Jackson. Miss M'Donald, Mrs Jackson, and Airs Bulte.

Tho dominion restaurants and tea rooms employees’ dispute was heard by a Council of Conciliation in Wellington on November 8, when a complete agreement as to wages and conditions of employment was reached. Tho only matter referred to tho court was tho date of commencement of the now award. The court has now filed am award in terms of the Conciliation Council’s recommendation, and has decided that it shall come into force on January 1 next, and continue in force until January 1, 1927. Tho government tendered _an official welcome yesterday to tho nino visiting chiefs from Western Samoa. In tho absence of the Prime Minister through indisposition, Sir Francis Cell presided over the largo gathering, and in tho course of his remarks in proposing the health of the visitors, ho announced that tho Government of New Zealand had been requested by the British Government to take over control of the Union Islands near Samoa. “ I think,” ho said, “wo will assume (that is subject to the approval of the Parliament of the dominion) charge of it. I believe it is the destiny of New Zealand to administer all the Island groups between Hawaii and Now Zealand, apart from those belonging to France.”— Press Association*

An Association message from Auckland states that tho retail price of butter (superfine) has. been reduced a penny to Is 7d a pound. In the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court, a smartly-dressed negro youth, Albert M'Grudor, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence for the theft.of two diamond rings from a local jeweller’s shop. The accused had entered the shop to have Ids spectacles repaired, and during the absence of tho girl in the workshop had taken two rings. Counsel said accused was filling an important role in a travelling company, and tho lapse was due to nervous breakdown. —Press Association.

“Don’t give your girls too mncli liberty,” said Miss M. M’Lean, principal of tho Girls’ College at Wellington, in giving a word of advice to parents. “ Remember that these girls are not ready for it. They arc just like an untutored people —not ready for self-government. The girls need restraint. When they leave school ho their guardians as well as their parents.” Miss M'Loau also had a word to say on the question of _ dross, “Women’s dress, as a rule,” she said, “’S suitable), but there aro too many extremes. Orio would almost think that tho old order has been" reversed—that men are the weaker sex, and women the stronger. On a cold day you sec men dressed in blue suits and serge coats, and women in georgette and baroness.”

A Russian mimed Zacban Shostack, arrested at the railway station at Wnihi last week on a charge of offensive behaviour, appeared at the Police Court. Shostack, early in the year, had been employed by the Waihi Company at Waikino, For aggravated assault on a female at Waikino he received a mouth’s imprisonment, and later for trespass at Wniln in May was ordered to leave the district. Shostack next appeared at Wellington, and was granted a certificate ■of identity by the Department of Internal Affairs, bis intention being to proceed homo to Russia. Upon arrival in London (according to his written statement) he was “kicked out” of his lodging-house, and the British authorities sent him back to New Zealand. This statement includes the words, “ The Waikino tragedy send mo from land to land and bring me down to Wellington ”; also “that Shostack always in tho police station.” Sergeant M'Lean said that Shostack was a dangerous man to be at largo. Tho Bench decided to convict and discharge accused on tho distinct tinderstanding that ho left the district within twenty-four hours, failing which he would bo roarrostod and sent to Mount Eden. Officers and passengers disembarking from overseas steamers at Kobe, Japan, are usually met at the gangway by representatives of the leading hotels. An advertising card handed to an officer of a vessel now in Auckland carried the following somewhat weird wording : “ Savoy, Cafe and Room and House. This Cafe Savoy removed from Yokohama earthquake misfortune and start cafe and room and house. We hopping anybody come and get the satisfaction same as Yokohama Cafe Savoy, and wo bopping success name as Yokohama Cafe Savoy and give sntieful anybody who como as possible as wo can and wo waiting for any people.” And then, by way of explanation : " Place of the C'afo Gokodidi, No. 133 one station and little oast way of tho Hanebins station upside the street throestory building—T. Hanabara.” Tho above | was printed in largo black letters on a I card almost a foot square. “ We have many failures nowadays, and debtors seem to slip in and out of bankruptcy with eass, especially in Auckland,” remarked a creditor at a bankruptcy meeting at Auckland. “There is nearly alvays a motion of sympathy passed. We have to pay our debts, and why should not the bankrupts ?”

You will find gift selecting easy at, Williamsons, the jewellers (next The Bristol Co.), You got quality at moderate prices. •—[Advt.] Tho second last euchre party of the year will be held to-morrow night at Brown’s Tea Rooms, opposite Duke’s Butchery. Th«, fiis-t prises aro a dainty afternoon tea set and an order for £1 10s.

Tho Penguin self-filling fountain pen at 12s 6d is equal to any pen on the market. It is fully guaranteed, and the nibs are iridium-pointed. Gold-mounted models may bo had for 20s, this making an ideal gift.— Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd. —[Advt.] Yes, tho best place for children’s toys i« Todd's Toy Arcade, Georgo street (next the Plaza). —[Advt.]