APATHY OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19177, 17 November 1925, Page 10

APATHY OF AUCKLAND.

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

COURT NEEDS EXHIBITS. APPEAL MADE FOR FUNDS. REMOVAL OF A REPROACH. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] DUNEDIN, Monday. A visit to tho Auckland Court on the eve of tho opening of the exhibition makes Southerners jeer and leaves Aucklanders wither speechless or full, of angry eloquence. The paintings on the walls, which are not to be compared with tho decorations in the Southland, Canterbury and Otago Courts, now cover a little more snaco than they did a few days ago. The ceilings have been tastefully draped with white, but there is no sign of any exhibits. Some . have reached Duncdin, but do not appear to be "on tho way." Mr. J. A. 0. A Hum, who arrived this evening, as representative of the Auckland Exhibition Committee, in company with Mr. A. T. Brainsby, who is to be in charge of tho court, said that, in his judgment, the lay-out of the court by Mr. T. G. Price had greater distinction than any other and opportunity was provided for making the finest display, but on present plans the display could not possibly bo compared with those of Canterbury, Otasjo and Southland. Those responsible for these courts had had adequate funds with which to work out a lofty, artistic conception. There was no doubt that Auckland people did not realise the stupendous character of the exhibition and from motives of pride, to say nothing of the material aspect of advertising in such a settjng, more funds were an urgent necessity. .Mr. A Hum has forwarded the following telegram to Auckland: — In Justice to the City.

"After inspecting the exhibition I am of the definite opinion that Mr. Price lias designed for Auckland a court quite distinctive from and superior to any other court, but I am greatly concerned about adequate exhibits. While no doubt the is being done with our limited funds, ~am sure "when the court is completed ♦ho exhibition will not do Auckland justice and Auckland will suffer greatly by comparison with other courts unless supplemented. The Auckland Court cannot be completed for two weeks and there is therefore still an opportunity to arrange an exhibition which will he a credit to the province and give satisfaction to jtucklandcrs. T appeal for every effort to be made for funds m order that the exhibition may not be a reproach to Auckland and give dissatisfaction to visiting Aucklanders. It is better to help now than to eoumlain later. If money in excess of £6OOO can bo obtained I strongly recommend working models of, say, the Rotorua thermal activities and the Waitomo Caves." "Every Aucklander in Duncdin will echo Mr. Allum's sentiments. There is riot the slightest doubt that Mr. Price the honorary architect., has developed with great dignity the lay-out. He is to be congratulated upon his work. It is the onlv court giving a vista of the whole from the avenue. The front is a very striking facade of six bays covered by segmental arches, surmounted by en♦aWntnre and a balustrade. Tt looks like (he* front of a substantial building of Portland stone arid the grev stones of both exterior and interior give relief. Need for Working Models.

The whole question now is what is to fill it. There are to be four internal, courts devoted to Auckland, North Auckland, Tauranga and Rotorua, and Waikato and Waitomo. For the Auckland Court there are to be wall pictures of the harbour, city and beaches, a relief map of the harbour, and models of a dredge and the museum, but none of these features will lilt the display anywhere near those of the other provinces. For North Auckland there is to be a swordfish and some citrus trees, making a foreground to an orchard picture. Nothing is known about the Waikato and Waitomo display. For Tauranga a collection of shells is the only exhibit mentioned, and Rotorua has stags' heads and Maori curios on the list. There are to be general exhibits of coal, gum, timber and so on, but unless there are to be some distinctive features and, above all, ■ working models introducing arresting novelties, the display must fail by comparison with others. Only by such things can Auckland hope to put up a show that will compare with the others. A refrigerator will be essential if butter is to be shown to advantage.

The latest advices from the New Zealand tourist representative in Australia are that every ship from November to April sailing from the Commonwealth to New Zealand has been fully booked, representing, it is estimated, 50.000: people. It will bo a thousand pities if these form wrong impressions of the North from Auckland's display at the Dunedin Exhibition. Feeling in Dunedin. A good deal of feeling exists in Dunedin in regard to Auckland's lukewarm attitude toward the exhibition. It is believed that Auckland came in grudgingly, and the fact that the provincial court will be so late has added fuel to the fires of hostility. Dunedin enthusiasts are inclined to become eloquent on the subject.

"It is a national thing," said one, "but your people up North seem to regard it as a purely parochial show, not much .more than a glorified winter show. Your apathy has been appalling. "As a matter of fact," he went on, "you haven't the money up there to make an exhibition on such a scale."

One tried to make merry upon the matter, but the Dunedin man refused to see any joke. He called us parochial, grudging the South everything, and beforo he had finished ho was telling what he thought of people who made the jibe about "the fishing villago down South," and Auckland levity over Presbyterians and porridge. He quite extended himself.

•"Dunedin," he concluded, "may get extra trade out of the exhibition, hut the shareholders of the exhibition know finite well that their money is gone. They have written it off long aero."

It was difficult to arcuo with him. particularly in view of the backward position of Auckland's Court. It was suggested that Dnnedin was predisposed to look for trouble with Auckland, seeing that Auckland's progress of the last two decadoq had given the city a pnrmMton of 1W 000 creator thnn that of Dunedin, hut that cr-rfninlv did no good. Tho attitude of this man is tvnicnl. Auckland's stock is not hich in Dunedin, However, • the Dxnpd'nites h;>vp some comfort in the belief (hat Auckland is "broke."