THE LATE EXHIBITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14416, 5 July 1907, Page 9

THE LATE EXHIBITION.

CHARGES OF MISMANAGEMENT. OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM. STATEMENTS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [Fjcom Ovts. CoxßEsroinmNT.] WELLINGTON, July 4. During the course of the debate on the Address-in-Reply this evening, tho member for Ghristchurch North epoke freely regarding the management of the New Zealand International Exhibition. Ho sketched the early history of tho great undertaking, and explained with what enthusiasm the citizens of Christchurch, many of them exports in exhibitions, had thrown themselves into the work. "Then, Sir," lie added, "we wore interfered with by the man sent by the Government to manage the Exhibition. He was known as tho manager, but lie should fiave been known as the mismanager. I will not weary the House with details in regard to tho various matters, but I will say that owing to the behaviour of that man th© first Executive Commissioner, Mr Robert Allan, resigned. The late Sir John Hall, who was then appointed, declined to work with 'him after a few experiences, and Messrs W. Reece and G."T. Booth, two of the most respected citizens of Christchurch, dropped out ( Cf active work after they had been appointed Commissioners. Nearly every one of the over-sea Commissioners declined to have anything to do with this man. The Exhibition was run on most extravagant and wasteful lines. I shall be surprised if the less to the colony dees not exceed £60,000, but,l am confident that if tho committees set up to work in connection with the Exhibition had been left untrammelled there would have been no question of a loss. I believ©,they would have shown a profit. Any suceess/connected with the Exhibition was' not in consequence of this misiuanager, but in spite of him. The attendance was said to be something like two millions, hut I do not believo it was more than half of that number. The attendance ■was reckoned in a most unusual way, a man who went in half a dozen times during tho day being registered as. half a dozen persons. It very often happened that Volunteer corps were inarched in to swell the attendance. The citizens of Christchurch worked .hard for the Exhibition, and'l wish to place oh record my appreciation of the work they performed. That the Exhibition has been a financial success indirectly none will deny, but if it had heen properly managed there would have been a surplus instead of a deficiency."