ENTER THE NORTH.

Evening Star, Issue 19127, 19 December 1925, Page 6

ENTER THE NORTH.

The opening of the Wellington and Auckland Courts last night moans the completion of the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition* just a little over a month after its main opening. We do not often accuse the north of slowness, but it took time to grasp the scale of this Exhibition or the efforts that would be needed fur an adequate representation at it—we might add, the disadvantage that would bo suffered by anything like an inadequate representation. For that the south’s propaganda may have been partly at fault. We are bad advertisers, usually, at this end of the dominion, though it will be acknowledged that for once we are doing it well in a concrete way. Like brothers in a family, the provinces in New Zealand have their own differences at times. They are leas apt probably than outsiders —till an outsider questions them —to recognise each other’s virtues; but the differences are only skin-deep. The strength of New Zealand is the strength of the family, and there is no member that docs not contribute to that strength. Though the comments on it from this region have been most considerately restrained, the month’s backwardness of.the north in this latest demonstration of resources and progress has quite certainly given less pain to the south than to the north itself. Pain and pleasantries can be now forgotten. If wo racked our memories very haul, wc might think of exhibitions at which Otago has been slow. No harm has been done in tliis case by the deliberateness of the North Island, savoring more of Scottish canniness and suspiciousness than of the eagerness which we generally attribute to it. The Exhibition is big enough for its courts not to have been missed while they wore still shot off by barriers during the process of preparation- Probably it is an advantage that they should he opened now as new features, when some others have had time to become familiar, instead of at an earlier period- The north has not been unrepresented in the meantime. The great secondary industries pavilion, likewise the motor pavilion, would have had much loss of glory than they happily display without its exhibits. We can warmly acknowledge, moreover, tliat the northern courts would be sadly missed if some malicious genie should have the unkindness to spirit them back to the North Island now that they have been goon. It is a marvel to us that so much of genuine art sense and talent for exposition should have been shown by local committees as they have brought to bear upon the representation of their provinces, and the Wellington and Auckland courts, with their glowing displays, have well risen to the high standard that was set for them. The opea-

rng of tlioix pavilions means that'every district except Westland, which was to have been included, but found difficulties at the last moment, is now represented in the provincial courts, making this Exhibition more worthy of the first half of its name than any that has been held before it. It never was conceived or advertised by Otago otherwise than on the broadest basis. Our fellow-pro-vinces, North Island as well as South, are now participants with us in its credit, with almost our own interest in its success. They have been most generous in their tributes to the general excellence of the display provided. The first month has been passed, making records and earning opinions that are the best promise for the future. The holiday season has now begun, which is the season for travel. Next week will bo Canterbury’s week at the Big Exhibition. We hope that it will bo also Auckland’s week and Wellington’s week and the week of all Now Zealand, to bo followed by many others of the same character. There is not even the beginning yet of any shortage of boarding accommodation in Dnnedin. The general rnn of charges, for this and other services, does not amount to any unfair exploitation of visitors. Traffic arrangements have been made on an exceptional scale. On all these points misconceptions have been expressed, but New Zealand by this time should bo aware of the facts, as it is now of the scale of the Exhibition.