THE EXHIBITION SITE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14925, 24 February 1912, Page 8

THE EXHIBITION SITE.

MR. BART. KENT'S ATTITUDE. RESIGNS THE PRESIDENCY. ACTIVITY OF THE MAYOR. "" Ptjksuaxt to his definite statement that he would only accept the presidency 0 the projected Auckland -Exhibition provided that it be held in Victoria,. Park Mr. Bart. Kent yesterday withdrew from that office. In a communication forwarded to ins Executive Committee of the Exhibition through the secretary (Mr. \V. p* Holmes), Mr. Kent wrote :— "As you will have seen from the reports of the daily press His Worship the Mayor and City Councillors have, in effect, declined to allow Victoria Park to be used for the purpose of the Auckland Industrial and Mining Exhibition Despite this I still maintain that it is far and away the best site for the purpose in question in all -Auckland, but I cannot, of course, fight the whole of the city authorities.

"Now," Mr. Kent proceeded, "my very clear stipulation with the Executive Committee of the proposed Exhibition was that I was willing to undertake tha guidance of the new Exhibition, provided that Victoria Park could be secured fop that purpose. As the ground in question has been refused. I beg very respectfully to withdraw from the movement altogether. .

" This step I take with extreme reluctance." the letter went on, "feeling sure as I do, that at Victoria Park I could have made ran Exhibition that the whole city and Dominion would have been able to look back upon with pride for years to ' come. Now, being full of doubt about tho success of any Exhibition held in the outer Domain, I can* not ask the guarantors to follow me in an enterprise about which I feel no certainty of success myself. I cannot tell ■ you how greatly I appreciate- the very high honour you paid - me in requesting me to become your president, and very deeply I regret that, in tho circumstances, I feel compelled to take the action I am now doing. ' • ' £',-' "If you still persevere. with the proposed new Exhibition." Mr. Kent concluded, "then l wish you such Euccesg as the heart of man could possibly desire, and am inexpressibly sorry I cannot travel with you all tho way." Mr. Kent's letter has bsen duly received by the Executive Committee, and it is hoped by the members of the committee that he may be induced to reconsider his, decision, It is tho intention of the Mayor (Mr. 0. J. Parr) to take an active- part fin the Exhibition movement. With tSia view of enabling the question, of site to-; be thoroughly considered, Mr. Parr ha issued an invitation to Mr. Kent, the members of the Executive Committee, the secretary (Mr. W. R. Holmes), and leading representatives of the daily press, to pay a visit of inspection next ; Monday| afternoon to the outer Domain., and also to Point Erin Park. The party will'be accompanied by the city engineer (Mr. Bush) and the parks superintendent (Mr. Pearson). • •;