THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1912. THE EXHIBITION SITE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14927, 27 February 1912, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1912. THE EXHIBITION SITE.

The success of the proposed Auckland Exhibition of 1912-13 turns upon the selection of a suitable site, and the Mayor of Auckland is therefore to be commended for his strenuous efforts to secure a satisfactory decision. The tour of inspection made yesterday by the party organised by Mr. Parr made very evident the superior attractions of the Outer Domain, and the s only question at issue appears to be whether Auckland can venture to assume the burden involved in such a selection. This is, of course, a problem which must be decided upon by the Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Association, but since public opinion must necessarily have great weight in assisting the committee set up by these bodies in their deliberations we trust that public interest will be so aroused that there need be no hesitation in taking a step which means so much to the community at large. Victoria Park. Point Erin Park, and the Metropolitan Grounds have been suggested, Victoria Park being the favourite of the Exhibition Committee. But the strong protest of the athletic organisations against the exclusion of their members and the general public from this invaluable recreation ground has compelled the City. Council to refuse the Committee's request that the use of Victoria Park should be granted for Exhibition purposes ; and Ave have further the authoritative statement that it would cost between £2000 and £3000 to restore the Park to its original condition, while the City Council would lose an additional £1000 in revenue from the athletic associations. Point Erin Park is comparatively inaccessible and the Metropolitan Grounds are now too small. Thirteen years ago a very successful Exhibition was held at the Metropolitan Grounds, and those responsible for that memorable gathering cannot be too highly praised for their efforts and management. But Auckland has grown in every way since that time, and a site which was large enough in the Nineteenth Century would now be quite inadequate for an Exhibition worthy of the largest city in the Dominion in 1912-13. It would now be impossible to have at the Metropolitan Grounds an Exhibition thoroughly representative of the industrial and commercial activities of Auckland, and also to afford space for the various attractions inseparable from such functions. We may, therefore, fairly dismiss both Point Erin Park and the Metropolitan Grounds as unsuitable, for it would be manifestly better to have no Exhibition at all than to have one which would not redound to the credit and reputation of Auckland. As a site, the Outer Domain is! unsurpassable, provided that the public regards it as accessible and that the funds arc forthcoming to bear the expense of the work necessary to afford sufficient level ground, I As for accessibility, it must not be forgotten that the tram service has revolutionised the transit problem of the. metropolis, and that huge crowds frequently gather at the Domain. On Sundays and holidays a great stream of wayfarers reaches the Domain by way of the Grafton Bridge alone, and both the Parncll and the Khyber Pass tram lines are much nearer to the Outer Domain than is Symonds-street. As we have repeatedly pointed out, the Domain is by far the most convenient of all possible sites to the railway junction at Newmarket. Even without a tramway loop linewhich might be arranged—the accessibility of the Domain appears to be unquestionable. As for the cost of preparation, the Industrial Committee may fairly expect generous support from the City Council and from other local authorities, for its work will remain as permanent improvement for the future use and enjoyment of the athletes and the public generally. That it is an ambitious site is hardly a condemnation, for Auckland is not only an ambitious centre, but is justified in being ambitious by the way in which it steadily leads in the race between our New Zealand cities. Energy and enterprise such as made the Metropolitan Grounds Exhibition successful in IS9B-99 should make a Domain Exhibition successful in 1912-13. For our population and our trade, with the population of the provincial district which centres in this city, have grown in the intervening period to an extent unparalleled by any other part of the Dominion. Without any

undue optimism as to the growth of Auckland during the coming year we may fairly make the following, comparisons between the position in 1898-99 and the presumable position in 1912-13: 1898-99. 1912-13. Population of Auckland... 60,000 110,000 Population of province ... 165,000 jSV'XXX Trade of Auckland ... £4,500.000 £9,000,000 The growth of population and trade has been accompanied by an increase in the standard of comfort, and in conception of excellence. People would now be dissatisfied with an exhibition which would once have gratified them, but are quite prepared to patronise and to pay for an Exhibition upon more modern lines. The Christchurch Exhibition was an international" affair, was extravagantly managed and lost money—but it is very noteworthy that the shrewd business men of Christchurch are quite ready to have another Exhibition as soon as the claims of Auckland are disposed of. Without being extravagant or reckless—weaknesses which involve disaster whatever the site—it should be possible for the industrial and commercial representatives of Auckland to carry out an Exhibition project at the Domain which should be as successful financially, through being attractive to the general public, as it would be advantageous to the business interests concerned.