CHOICE OF MEDALS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6179, 10 April 1907, Page 8

CHOICE OF MEDALS

TROUBLE .AT THE EXHIBITION. THREATEN ED RESIGNATION OF A COMMITTEE. PRESS ASSOCIATION. riURISR.Ii I'lß'll, April 9. The chairman of the Home Industries Committee of the Exhibition, Mr W. Minson, has resigned, and the other members of tho committee have decided to do likewise if a satisfactory solution of a dilliculty over tho home industries medals is not arrived at. The facts of the trouble were explained to a reporter by Mr Minson to-night. Air Minson said that on Marc 1 1 2Sth a tender had been accepted by the general manager of the Exhibition for the supply of gold, silver, and bronze medals for the home industries awards. Tho design lin'd been selected and the order given without the knowledge or approval of the committee, although the committee. had been repeatedly assured that they would be consulted and their approval obtained. Hn felt that such conduct to a, committee that had done so much work was grossly dishonourable, and the indignity was one that no selfrespecting committee could endure. Ho had, therefore, sent in his resignation, and tin' committee bad decided to follow suit unless a satisfactory settlement was come to. Tbe committee had interviewed tho Acting-Premier when lie was passing through Christchurch, tho position was explained to him, and be (-Mr Minson) felt quite satisfied .that .Mr Hall-Jones would find a solution of the difficulty that would be satisfactory to the committee. In the meantime, however, the work of the committee would be held in abeyance ponding a satisfactory solution.

Mr Minson went on to say that the committee objected to the action of Mr Munro in ignoring them iu the matter, ami they also strongly objected to the choice of medal made. The typo of medal ,chosen by Mr Munro was about the size of a farthing. Tho gold medal was of nine carat gold, and would cost 13s Od, tho silver would cost 4s (id, and tho hronzo 3s fid, all the medals being of tho same design. Tim committee tolt that such medals were utterly un. worthy of an international exhibition, and they felt that if they approved those medals they would be guilty of a groat breach of faith with tho exhibitors and competitors whoso interests they were supposed to guard. . H tho order was finally carried out'the committee would consider it their duty to communicate with the recipients of the medals, telling them the views of the committee, and acquainting them with the resignation of the committee. The committee had submitted designs for tho medals, which had been equally approved by tho Board of Commerce, and they felt that thev had a right to expect that that appro: al would bo endorsed by the Government. Tho committee estimated that, according to Ihoir designs, tho gold medals would cost 28s each, the silver Bs, and the bronze Gs ; and that, they considered, was not too much felon international exhibition. Mr Minson added there was also troidile over tho certificates. The committee had approved a design, and had ordered Hie certificates from a local printer, -but Mr Hall-Joncs had informed him that the certificates were being printed at the Government Printing Office. That was news to tho committee, and lie did not know what would bo done eventually. In conclusion, Air Minson said that Mr Hall-Joncs had promised to bring the matter before Cabinet this week. ‘Air Munro, when questioned on the subject, stated that* tho matter had nothing to do with him, but was simply a question between the Alinister and the committee. He denied that tho Executive Commissioners had dono anything more than give their sanction to the securing of gold, silver, and bronze medals, without anything being specified as to size or value. He considered the medals that had been ordered were quite suitable.