Sullivan On Exhibition Value In Wartime

Northern Advocate, 9 November 1939, Page 2

Sullivan On Exhibition Value In Wartime

[Per Press Association. Copyright! WELLINGTON, This Day. Declaring “this is a great and historic occasion, a great moment of time almost sacred in the life of our young nation,” the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Sullivan), speaking at the opening of the Centennial Exhibition, reviewed conditions from the time of the arrival of the Maori pioneers in New Zealand to the present day. He said the Exhibition was to be the focal point in the Centennial Celebrations—the ccnti’e piece of our expression of our appreciation to the pioneers who laid the foundation of our pakeha settlement. “I feel the Exhibition will serve a very useful purpose,” said Mr Sullivan. “Defence and increased production are two very important necessities in our national life, but equally important is liie task of maintaining morale. Indecision Hard to Fight.

“It has been well paid that a man or nation can fight a tangible enemy —can grapple with problems—but the hardest thing to fight, it it can be fought at all, is indecision. “A feeling of frustration, of doubt, of uncertainty, could soon spread through the country if a decisive lead was not given. “In carrying on the normal life of the community, vve are contributing- to the common cause, the universal purpose of winning the war. “What really matters is that each unit of the nation should fill a niche where it can be of most value in the general plan, even if that niche be unspectacular. “Thus it is that a lead has been given in the decision to proceed with the Exhibition.” Manufacturing Development, Mr Sullivan said he was particularly interested in the development of manufacturing industries. During recent years steady progress had been maintained. For instance, when the Dunedin Exhibition opened in 1925 there were 4,547 factories in the Dominion employing 80,327 persons. The annual wages bill was £15,690,000, and the value of factory production was £84,101,000. Cn Hie last available figures, New Zealand now had 5924 factories,- employing 102,344 persons, producing goods to the value of £113,691.000. and distributing £20,981,000, On behalf of the Government and the people, Mr Sullivan expressed appreciation of the Exhibition Company, the contractors, architects, exhibitors and hundreds of skilled artisans who had been engaged in the construction of the Exhibition. Toils Stow of N'.Z.

Tho chairman of the Exhibition Company (Mr T. C, A. Hi slop). Mayor of Wellington, said tho purpose of the Exhibition had boon to bring into being something that would tell the story of New Zealand, and. in the telling call forth a spirit of gratitude to the courageous past and inspiration Cor the days to come.

He reviewed the history of (he undertaking, and (hanked the Government, Exhibition shareholders and all who contributed (o making (be Exhibition possible. Emphasising that no New Zealander should fail to see Iho Exhibition. Mr Hislop concluded I.lml, if from what was there portrayed the people of New Zealand came to know their country better, and learned a little more of the story of tho past, enabling them to build with courage and wisdom for the future, then this great Centennial event would have fulfilled its purpose.