PROPOSED AUCKLAND EXHIBITION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10782, 2 June 1911, Page 4

PROPOSED AUCKLAND EXHIBITION.

(Per Press Association.)

Auckland, June 1. A public meeting was lield this afternoon to consider the question of holding an international exhibition in Auckland at an early date. '.The Mayor (Mr J. C. Parr) presided, and there was a. large attendance. The Mayor, in explaining the purpose for which tho meeting had been called, said he was strongly in favor of the proposed exhibition. The last fair held in Auckland 15 years ago had proved a great suticess, and he was convinced that the time had arrived when another should he held. AVith fast aiid wellappointed steamers thousands of people would come from Australia and further afield, and Auckland would be the holiday centre of the South Pacific for 1912. From a commercial and a business point of view, continued Mr Parr, the proposal should receive support. It was sometimes said that after an exhibition there, was a fear of a slump. This, in his opinion, would not be the case in Auckland. There was no slump after the last exhibition, and there would be no slump after this. Auckland would advance, exhibition or no exhibition. Nothing could impede its progress and development. Mr Leo Myers (chairman of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce) said this was an exhibition age. ' During the last 17 or 18 years: New Zealand had passed through an unprecedented 'period of prosperity, whilst the potentialities of the Dominion were just beginning to bo thoroughly appreciated. This was not only an exhibition age, but an advertising age, and tho value of such an advertisement as was now proposed to New Zealand "in general and Auckland in particular could not be overestimated. Regarding the date on which the exhibition should be held, the first suggestion had been to hold it : n 1915 co-incident with the opening of tiie Panama Canal, a scheme which, itwas believed, would play ho unimport-j ant part in the development of this country. Subsequent consideration had convinced the Chamber of Commerce that there was no need to wait four 1 years, and that a shorter period would be sufficient in which to prepare an exhibition worthy of the Dominion and the province in which it will be held. It had to be remembered that the Winnipeg Exhibition took place in 1913-14, and the big San Francisco Fair in 1915. The enthusiasm with which the latter was being taken up by the 1 commercial men of California should he an example to follow, and should stimulate Auckland to tho achievement of a success" ofv which the whole Dominion would be proud. Mr' Myers then moved —"That a provisional committee be appointed to consider the advisability of holding a New Zealand Exhibition in Auckland, and report to an adjourned meeting to be held within 28 days." Mr B, Buddie (president of the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association), in seconding the motion, said: the take should not be made of regarding the proposed, exhibition simply as a means for individual profit-making. It was in a far higher, and more idealistic sense that it should be regarded. New Zealanders wore proud of the portion of the Empire.'..in" which they lived, and they were favored with many privileges and natural conditions. Side by side with these conditions went certain responsibilities, and the holding of such an exposition as that proposed, was one of them. It/would serve as-a. tangible expression of our industrial activity, and the project should be taken up with enthusiasm and carried-to successful fruition.

Other speakers gave expression totlieir opinion, Mr Myers' proposal re-' legating the main issues to a citizens, committee being carried. •