HOME FOR EXHIBITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20074, 11 October 1928, Page 14

HOME FOR EXHIBITIONS.

THE NEED IN AUCKLAND. COMBINED ACTION URGED. COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE. The necessity of establishing a permanent. home for future Auckland exhibitions was discussed at the annual meeting of the joint committee of the Auckland Winter Exhibition yesterday. Mr. W. \V. Massey presided. Mr. J. A. C. Allum said.it was high time they had a permanent home. Each year large sums were expended in fitting up Harbour Board sheds, ynd this would continue if something were not done. The Wellington exhibition committee had obtained a portion of a reserve from the "rllington City Council and erected a fine permanent building on it. He urged that, the Manufacturers' Association and the Agricultural and Pastoral Association should combine in the matter. Before any definite decisions were arrived at concorning the site, etc., a combined trust should ho formed to mage the scheme. No scheme of the kind could succeed if it were not properly managed.

Tho chairman said a sub-committee had been set up by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association to go into tho question, lie realised something would have to bo done. They did not want to bo continually in the position of having to use Harbour Board sheds. Mr. Allum's motion that a joint committee of six should be set up as a trust to investigate the position and furnish a report was carried. The following committee was appointed:—Mr. G. Finn, Mr. F. M. Hills, and Mr. J. A. C. Allum, representing tho Manufacturers' Association. and Mr. J. T. F. Mitchell, Mr. Austin Carr and Mr. G. R. Hutchinson, representing the Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

A proposal for the setting up of a home for Auckland and national exhibitions was placed before tho meeting by Mr. John Fletcher and Mr. Glover Clark. The former suggestr I the Hobson Bay area as tho site for future exhibitions. He suggested tho Harbour Board should reclaim tho Hobson Bay area, and hand it over to tho City Council at a peppercorn rental. A portion could bo utilised for playing areas. Mr. Glover Clark said they had approached the Harbour Board engineer, but he was unable to give them definite figures regarding the cost of the reclamation. The Chairman: I think those present would bo astounded if they hoard the figure. It was decided that the proposals should be considered by the joint committee.

The. report of the managers concerning tho last exhibition was discussed and adopted.