NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18876, 31 May 1923, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

(Continued from page 7.) The Mayor (Mr Tapley) asked if it would be necessary to go to votv muoh additional expense for floating foundations. Mr Anscombe said that for all the largo exhibit buildings and the concert hall the ground was already sufficiently consolidated. There was no difficulty in carrying on the building work and providing for any structure which might have to bo erected. The building on the worst portion of the ground would be the lighter structures. Sir George Fenwick said ho rose in no spirit of opposition to the motion proposed by Mr Todd, but he thought they were going to settle the matter too hastily if they settled it that night. The very last speaker had evidently misapprehended the position of the Lake Logan reclamation. It was quite \vell understood that there must be a scheme of drainage for the Opoho Creek, and that would necessitate the whole area being raised for a further height of 3ft or 4ft. Hon- was it possible for Mr Anscombe to say that the buildings could, if need be, started in a fortnight's time? ...light he ask Mr Wilkie if he considered that area sufficiently consolidated at present and high cnotigh to warrant the erection of bindings within the next six months? Mr Wilkie replied that about* 20 acres of the area were within a foot to 16in of the right level, and that portion was solid and hard and would carry very heavy structures. He thought Mr Anscombe had stated that the buildings could be started *>n piles and the reclamation done underneath. There was a very small portion of the area that was actually up to the level. Sir George said this bore out his view that the scheme for diverting the Opoho Creek must be gone on with first and then the reclamation could proceed. He realised that the committee had done an enormous amount of work in preparing the report, so eloquently and impressively advocated by Mr Todd. He confessed that his view that the Oval was the only site had been considerably discounted. He did not think, however, that they should decide that matter that night. They were all in the dark as to the probable cost.— i " Hear, hear.") He doubted very much if the cost at Tabuna Park would bo as great as the cost at Lake Logan. He believed that the erection of the necessary buildings at Tahuna would be infinitely less costly. Tahuna Park was just as accessible, and it was a far finer site. There was no comparison between the two. It only wanted the labour and the money, and it could be converted into a. tine area long before •it was required for the Exhibition. They certainly should not decide until they had lad estimates of the comparative costs of Che two sites. They ought to know exactly on what they were embarking. They would not be carrying on the project as business men unless they knew what finance was involved. —("Hear, hear.") He urged (hat they should not come to a decision tfhat night. Mr S. Solomon said he did not agree with the last speaker as to the relative advantages of Tahuna Park and Lake Logan. He had visited and carefully looked at all the sites, and he came to the conclusion that there was no comparison between Lake Logan and any of the others.—("Hear, hear.") But he agreed with Sir George on the question of delay. Mr Anscombe's remarks had convinced him that they ought not to select the Lake Logan site at that time for this reason. Thev were under the heavy reproach of delay, and if they did as the committee proposed they would be delaying still further. Supposing Lake Logan proved to be not available, how were they going to justify doing nothing for six months? If they adopted the Lake Logan site that night they were simply gambling on the possibility or it being ready in time. No man could have been fairer than Mr Wilkie. and he said he believed it could be done, but he was not going to say positively it could. Supposing they went on building and it turned out that the site would not be available, where would they be? .Why this great necessity for an instant decision? Possibly six months from now it might still be a matter of opinion whether the site would be ready in time. They proposed to select the site at once before they . knew whether the Bluff dredge was available or not, although the Harbour Board engineer said if it was to be of use to him he must have it at once. He agreed that a little delay would do no harm. Mr Anscombe said that what he intended to convey was that if it was necessary to sommence building they could do so within j, week or two. -The suggestion about piling up the buildings and filling in afterwards must have been made by someone else. He would not recommend such a course at all. When Mr Wilkie and he had gone over the ground he had suggested that the proposed lagoon of 50Cft by 100 ft might be excavated and the spoil used'to bring the foundations for the buildings up to the requisite grade. Mr Sidey said that from what he had heard that night his feeling was very much on the lines cf the opinion expressed D.y the last two speakers. The Exhibition, beld here previously owed its success very largely to its central position.—("Hear, hear. ) They had to depend for their financial Bupport not so much on the oversea visitors as on their own people, and the nearer the centre of the city the Exhibition was the better it would pay. From that point of view the Oval was the site which afforded the greatest advantages. In view of the uncertainty of the position at Lake Logan he felt the unwisdom of coming to a definite decision that night. He understood from Mr Anscombe that in view of other building operations in the city it was necessary to start with the Exhibition structures as soon as possible. What was the position going to be in six months' time? Would there then be time to draw up plans and make all the necessary arraignments if they were compelled to decide vipon a new site? Another reason why they ehould hesitate to make up their minds that night was because they had so far not been afforded any comparison of the cost of putting the Exhibition on Lake Logan or on some other site. There was a feeling that it was going to cost a good deal more down there than elsewhere, and he would like to have a comparison of that kind.—("Hear, hear.") Mr W. E. C. Reid asked whether in the event of Lake Logan being adopted tn:s City Council could find the money for road 3, tramways, and drainage, or would it need to submit the proposal to the ratepayers. The Mayor (Mr Tapley) said it was estimated that £20,000 would be required for the highway and £25,000 for the tramway—or a total of about £50,000. It would be necessary to get the consent of the ratepayers to borrow that sum, but he did not doubt that they would take a broad view of the situation in the interests of the city. Mr Reid: That is another reason why we should defer the question of site. Mr T. Somerville said he was in favour of postponing their decision. They were not exactly pressed for _ time because the Harbour Board was putting its dredge into dock, and it would not he available until July. That seemed to give them an opportunity to go into the matter along the lines suggested by Sir George Fenwick and other speakers. The step they were proposing to take that night was of great importance, and their decision would have to be final. It seemed to him-that they should be placed in possession of information respecting tile comparative cost of the two sites mentioned, and, furthermore, some attempt should be made to demonst-ate the amount of money required to carry through this project.— ("Hear, hear.") If the citizens were not prepared to find the money they would have to abandon the Exhibition or bo content with a smaller scheme. As business men they should obtain more information before committing themselves to this proposal, although they were all heartily i;i accord with it.—("Hear, hear.") Mr Flavell wanted to know whether the cost of bringing up the Bluff dredge was to be borne by the Harbour Board or by the Exhibition Committee. , Hs also asked whether the area was to be handed over to the committee in thorough wor.kinir order. Mr II C l . Campbell said the proposition was that the committee should make an offer regarding the Bluff dredgo. He would suggest that the board should pay that pro■portion of the cost that would be required if the work wero done in its own time . later on. Mr H. E. Molier strongly deprecated any further delay, because that would only place the Harbour Board in difficulties. The board had to put the dredge on two shifts within one month. It was not going to cost the Exhibition Committee anything to ' get the ground ready, and he hoped they would« not go to Tahuna Park or anywhere else. If they were going to wait another month they weie going to lose valuable time and practically '. kill the Lake Logan scheme. It seemed to him that the Harbour Board had more go in it than many of the gentlemen there that night. The present difficulty could bo got over by hiring the Bluff dredge, especially as they were asking the Harbour Board to do the job. \

A Voice: Who is to pay for it? Mr Moller: The board might ask this committee to pay something. If the charter costs £9COO the board will most likeiy find £4OOO for work it would have to do later on. Tho only question is whether the City Council is going to make the highway. Mr J. Bogg said he was going to Move an amendment, although he felt a little ungracious in doing so, in order to expedite matters. He still thought that Mr Todd’s motion was a motion to postpone decision in this matter for six months. If they postponed it for a month they could get estimates and other valuable information. He moved that 'hey postpone decision for one month and in the meantime ask the Finance Committee and other committees to collect and place before them full information about tho approximate costs of the different sites, how soon the Bluff dredge would be available, and any other information obtainable. Sir George Fenwick seconded tho amendment, and said it was those present and not the Harbour Board who were taking the onus of carrying this thing through. He did not think it was fair to accuse those who wore advocating a little delay of being lacking in progress! - a ideas. They were not, only it was desirable that they should be on firm ground before they made any move at all. Mr R. Hudson asked if no other sites were to be considered at all. . , Sir George said tho amendment provided for that. , Mr Todd, in replying, expressed the opinion that it would bo a great mistake to close up the Oval for a period of three years. Tho Oval and the Caledonian Ground had been very fully considered by tho committee, and had been rejected because they were not largo enough to house an Exhibition on modern lines. I'lirthciv the sporting public of Dunedin would not consider it on any consideration. Sir George Fenwick: They are not going to rule Dunedin. . Mr Todd said they were going to be considered as much as any of the rest of tne citizens. The buildings on Lake Logan would he there permanently and the area would be handed over for a public playground. Mr W. Gow: I don’t believe it. Mr Todd said he did believe it, and ho was going to fight for it. Dunedin was going to greatly increase, and Lake Logan must he set apart as a recreation ground. If the whole of Lake Logan was not available in time it would bo possible to transfer some of the buildings to tho site mentionea by Mr Watson on tho reclaimed ground across the railway. Ho did not see why the buildings should cost more on Lake Logan than on Tahuna or on any other site, ihey could do away with tho idea of extra cost on tho Lake Logan area. With reference to the Tahuna site he pointed out that plantations would have to be destroyed and the difficulties that might be caused by sand when tho sandhills were levelled. He did rot see why they should delay in selecting the site. Were they never going to take a risk? In Dunedin they wanted to see a 100 per cent, success before they would attonmt anvthing. They had already lost 10 weeks, much to his sorrow. Every we»k now - was of great importance. It was necessary ,to adopt the resolution in order togive me necessary stimulus to the Harbour Board end to the Railway Department. There was no doubt in his mind that limy could have a sufficient part of the area ready to meet their requirements. Even if unforeseen circumstances arose that made 't necessary to alter their decision at the end of six months there would still remain le. months in which to put up the buildings on some other site. If they could not do it in that time they ought to go put to Anderson’s Bay and live there for all tune. —(Laughter.) Ho urged that they should first decide upon their site and men get their estimates. He opposed Mr Begg s amendment because he hold it was putting delay upon delay. All the information he had led him to believe that they could get the Exhibition ready and would get it ready; and if they went ahead novv they would see the Exhibition there in 192 d. (Applause.) . The amendment, on being put to tne meeting, was lost by 23 votes to 20. Mr Wilkinson moved ns a further amendment “That the matter be deferred for a fortnight with a view to giving the Finance Committee an opportunity of bringing before the adjourned meeting some idea ot the financial support whioh the scheme is going to command from the citizens. Ho thought it was highly desirable to get some information on that hoad before they finally decided on the question of a site. Mr Watson seconded the motion, remarking that it was desirable to secure a greater measure of unanimity. , Mr Todd: A fortnight ago we lost by three votes and now we have won by three votes. That shows an advance. In respect to finance it is quite understood that if the Finance Committee cannot raise tho money the whole thing falls to the ground. There was no reason tor delay. ihey were involving themselves in no expense and spending nothing until the Finance Committee brought along tho cash. He did not see any need for the amendment at all. Mr Peter Barr said that he did not intend to vote for this amendment, although he hud voted for the previous one. He was in rather a difficulty in coming to a decision, and one hesitated before voting against tile unanimous decision of such a committee as tho Sites Committee, but at the same time they must all feel sure that they were called upon to decide a momentous question. Ho did not think that much could be done in a fortnight. As a member of the Finance Committee he felt that there had been too much delay regarding financial matters, and he thought the committee should got to work at once on the formation of the company. Mr Begg said that he, too, could not support the new amendment. He was quite content with his defeat, and he would like to ask for a ruling whether this was an amendment to the original motion. It was a matter of finance and did not appear to be germane to the question of a site. Mr Solomon said they had had a fair and square fight, and now they should accept the decision of the meeting and row with the others. “To tell you the truth,’’ he added, amid laughter, “I am jolly glad tho meeting decided as it did.” The amendment was lost by a large majority and tho committee’s report unanimously adopted. The Chairman then moved—“ That tho provisional reports of the Finance and Sites Committees bo referred to the inner executive to prepare a report dealing with, the launching of the Exhibition Company and kindred matters for submission to a public meeting of citizens willing to subscribe to the company.” Continuing, the chairman read correspondence promising generous service and assistance from tho Law Society (which appointed its president, Mr J. M. Paterson, to co-operate with tho committee in the preparation ot documents), from the Architects’ Institute (which offered to prepare a layout scheme and act in an honorary advisory capacity), and from tho Builders’ Association, desiring to co-operate. These offers were very cordially received. The chairman also expressed his thanks to Mr W. E. C. Reid for his assistance. He submitted a further minute outlining the steps that had led to the Exhibition project taking shape, and retiring from Ills position as chairman in favour of the present Mayor. Mr H. L. J a P ] evOn- the motion of Mr Walker, it was agreed to approve the chairman’s action in approaching the various bodies referred to. Mr Anscombe and Mr Barr paid a tribute to the w%rk done by the chairman in promoting the whole scheme. Mr Barr expressed the opinion that the Finance Committee should nave been called together. He could not understand Mr Sargoodfo reference to the work of tho Finance Committee being at an end. He urged that something should bo done before the public meeting was held so that reports of definite financial promises should be placed before lt- Mr Solomon pointed out that that had already been decided. The Mavor returned thanks to Mr Douglas for his" gracious act in standing down in bis favour. He thought that, finance was the most important part of the. whole .business and they must go right ahead with it and 'know within a fortnight just what support they were going to get. The motion to refer the whole matter to the inner executive was carried. Sir George Fenwick moved that a very hearty vote c thanks be accorded to tho Sites Committee for the splendid services which it had tendered. Mr Solomon seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. Mr J. H. Walker said ho thought the least tho committee could do was to place on record its appreciation of the services rendered by Mr Douglas, who had been the right man in tho right place. This was seconded by Mr F. W, Mitchell, who suggested that Mr Douglas should bo appointed to tho position of deputy-chair-man. . , With this oddition the motion was earned, also by acclamation.