Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5758, 1 May 1880, Page 4

Mr. Aibert Potter, of Hamilton, Waikato, recently addressed a letter to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary relative to the desirability of forming a permanent New Zealand Exhibition in London under the immediate supervision and control of the AgentGeneral o£ the polony. A number of valuable suggestions are thrown out in that communication which are worthy of consideration. Mr. Potter states that the sending of exhibits from iTew Zealand to the Sydney Exhibition has coat this colony over £3000, and that in all probability a little expense will be entailed in respect to the Melbourne Exhibition, while an American project is on foot which will commit us to a much larger amount. He says : " We have forwarded our products to national exhibitions at great cost. Doubtless, such exhibitions have had a beneficial effect; it has brought ua, as a colony, prominently before the world. We gave them, by such a display, an opportunity of drawing their own inferences as to our capabilities. But, beyond that, the question arises, to what extent havo we practically benefitted ; and, with the exception of England, have we increased our exports in any degree to those States in consequence." Mr. Potter maintains that an exhibition, to be of any practical value to us as a colony, mast, of necessity, be always on view, under a responsible and supreme authority, and in the midst of a community from which we can draw those resources needful to aid us in prosecuting those efforts for which such exhibitions were designed—the development of the resources of the colony. In respect to the finances of the colony, the English financier—the public creditor—with the" aid of the colonial Government statistics, in such an exhibition as above sugggested, would have a practical demonstration of the use to which the colonists had applied the capital borrowed, and' the extent to which reproductive works had raised the colony. By this exhibition they would be continually brought into- immediate contact with the quality, and extent of our products. The twentyfour Ambassadors of foreign ' ourti," resident in London would not be slow to represent to their various Governments our producing capabilities, and the advantages our position affords. In respect to wool, our ehief export, under a more judicious system than the present, the large manufactures of England, France, and Germany could then select from samples of flocks the staples suitable to their requirements. The value to this colony of the permanent establishment of such an exhibition in London could not be estimated, and the exhibition of our colonial products would largely influence the emigration of that middle class, with moderate capital, whom the Government are anxious to secure.