THE LOCAL EXHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7449, 25 May 1911, Page 6

THE LOCAL EXHIBITION

“We can. still hitch our waggon to the great powerhouse of industry,” said the Acting-Prime Minister, in opening Wellington’s exhibition yesterday, and that was the very welcome keynote taken by other speakers—that this is a city of substantial material prosperity, present and prospective. There was manifested in the. remarks of the Mayor, Mr Fletcher, Mr Ballinger, and the Hon. J. Carroll a splendid confidence in the future of the city and of New Zealand, and Mr Fletcher directly admonished those who say to the contrary. We could do very well, as ho said, with a little less pessimism, and doleful people who seem to take pleasure in predicting disaster would do well to take Mr Fletcher’s words to heart and digest a tabulated statement appearing in another part of this paper showing the city’s progress as reflected in the trade of the port. The exhibition arranged by the Industrial Association is in itself a distinct sign

of advancement. Its scopn aud ambition are not over-reaenmg tt is but a local affair, designed to indicate to residents and visitors tho industrial and producing capabilities and resources of the city and district. This it does very effectively. The exhibition is likely to have considerable educative value, and ought to stimulate a demand for many New Zealand jiroducts, in ' themselves altogether superior, as tho various enterprising displays suggest, to anything that can be obtained from abroad. Efforts are being made by the promoters to attract all classes of people to the show, and there seems every reason to believe that tho undertaking will prove highly successful, financially and otherwise. Even if only, some of our woebegone friends are converted by this practical demonstration something will be achieved, though perhaps this is anticipating too much. At all events, the exhibition must do good by advertising the wares and products of our manufacturers. It is on a scale just about double (measured by tho floor space occupied) to' that held in Wellington some fourteen years ago. The displays in tho line buildings of the Harbour Board are exceedingly creditable to the Industrial Association and to the city and district whose energetic people make such a show possible.