THE EXHIBITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18946, 21 August 1923, Page 10

THE EXHIBITION

EETING OF PROVISIONAL DIRECTORS.

A meeting of tho provisional directors of he New Zealand and South Seas Exhibitor! Company was _ held in Mr W. E. C. teid’s office Inst night, and was attended y Messrs J. Sutherland Boss (chairman), J. L. Tapley, P. L. Halsted, S. Solomon, LC., H. K. Wilkinson, J. H. Walker, B. 1. Irwin, A. Burnett, J. Evans, H. F. Nees, . Loudon, H. F. Smcook, and C. Speight. In referring to the deputation which, railed on Mr Massey last week, tho chairjan stated that he had seen four reports a the newspapers, and tho one appearing n the Otago Daily Times was very com■ioto and very accurate. The members of he deputation discussed the wisdom of askng for a sJ)faight-out subsidy and also the visdom oF asking members of both Houses f Parliament to support the request made, rat it was felt that too largo a deputation vould probably do more harm than good, ,nd it was finally decided that only the hrce who were appointed at last weeks neeting should meet Mr Massey. The doratation was very fairly received, but Mr das soy pointed out that he never made pronisea:on matters of that sort without eonulfcing the Cabinet. The deputation pointed >ub that £55,000 had been raised, and that he directors had no 'doubt about _ raising 3100,000, and it asked for a straight-out nbsidy. It pointed out that a request for noney would not be made for some considerable time. The deputation also asked or the assistance of the Prime Minister uid the High Commissioner in the direoion of securing exhibits from the Imperial Exhibition to bo held in London next year, t was pointed out that this Exhibition was an affair that concerned the whole of Now soalahd. Tho Mayor (Mr Tapley) had folowed’ the speaker, bringing forward various icints, and Sir George Fenwick had, to lao ‘ his own words, picked up the loose flings, speaking more particularly with regard to the extent to which business in tho fOHhnion had grown in tho periods between ,ho various Exhibitions and quoting figures which appeared to appeal to Mr Massey rery much. Tho deputation also took aurantage of the opportunity to call on the rarious banks, beginning with the Bank of New Zealand. The directors of the Bank >f New Zealand had responded very hanctomely, promising £IOOO. —(Applause.) The leputation had given hn assurance that any;hmg in the nature of a donation would bo Tea ted on the same basis as if the bank vas a shareholder. In his remarks to the Prime Minister Sir George Fenwick had dated that tho Government money would >0 treated in the same way. In view ,ot rabsequont happenings ho thought that was wobably* a very wise step to take. Ino >ther banka trading hero preferred not to nako any pronouncement as to what they vote prepared to do, taking up the attiude that they would rather make it an issooiation matter. The temporary chairnan of the associated banks was not preiared to say anything definite until a meetng of the association was held, peroral >1 the banks had their headquarters in Melxturne, but in view of the lead given by he Bank of New Zealand it was hoped to jet something substantial from them, either ©parately or as an association. _ ■ , Mr Tapley expressed the opinion that hey would receive a very generous response :rom tho Government, lie thought Mr Vlassey recognised the importance of the Exhibition from a dominion point of view. He considered that Mr Massey was seized with the fact that if anyone gould run an inhibition successfully from a financial point yf view tire citizens of Dunedin could do io. Mr Buckloton (general manager ot the Bank of Now Zealand) had made very sabsoctory arrangements regarding: finance. He was prepared to lake on deposit any money hoy had,, and suggested that they should leposit certain sums for different periods For deposits up to two years he would illovv 4 per cent, for six to 11 months 5* >er cent., and foj three to five months 3* ier cent If they wanted money that was ,n fixed deposit no doubt some arrangone nt could be made to get it. He thought that was a very favourable arrangement. Jr Tapley proceeded to express the opinion hat the response from the Bank of New a ©aland was a splendid one, and it was loped that the lead thus given would be an example to tho other banks, and that they would also subscribe generously to the toubition. Ho thought they had a splendid smissarv in Sir George Fenwick, who carded a lot of weight and respect, and who was of great value to the deputation in the negotiations with the banks and other inititutions. He would like to pay a special tribute to Sir George for the time he spent in going to Wellington, and also for the interest he took in regard to publicity. The deputation had met Mr Gunson (tho Mayor of Auckland), who was in full sympathy with the Exhibition, and anything hat he or the citizens of Auckland could 3o to further tho interests of the Exhibition would be dona willingly. Those whom he deputation met did 1 not look upon rthe Exhibition from a parochial point of view, ind he was sure that they were going to have whole-hearted support throughout the dominion. . ~, , - The Chairman mentioned that a very tine Bxhibit from the Mines Department would be sent Home for the Imperial Exhibition next year. The deputation to Wellington bad seen Mr Bennett (chairman of the Aafisory Committee), and it hoped to be able to get that exhibit. Mr Bennett had undertaken to let them have a list of all the exhibits that would be sent from New Zoa land to the Imperial Exhibition with a view to their deciding what' they would like to get back hero. , , x The Secretary (Mr Eeid) reported that 5725 additional shares had been applied for since last meeting, bringing the total applications up to 60,516. The meeting decided that the shares be allotted as applied for. Further applications not yet dealt with will bring the total up to nearly 70,000 A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the members of the deputation that waited on Mr Massey.