NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19014, 9 November 1923, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS.

“LOGAN PARK” SITE CONFIRMED.

INTERNATIONAL IN SCOPE.

A meeting of shareholders in the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company was held iu the Burns Hall last night tor discussing the important questions ol the site of the Exhibition and its scope. Mr C. Speight presided, and there was a large attendance of shareholders. ,The Chairman said that he was very pleased to see such a largo attendance of shareholders. He hoped that the largo attendance augured well for the success of the Exhibition, and that the citizens of Dunedin would move as enthusiastic as their audience that night. He had to apologise for the absence of Mr J. Sutherland Ross, chairman of directors, who was in the North Island. Mr Ross said that ho trusted that the shareholders would give full consideration to the unanimous recommendation of the directors regarding the site and the scope of the Exhibition. The Chairman then said that tho first question for the meeting to consider war tho scope of the Exhibition. He would move that the recommendation of tie directors that the Exhibition be international bt confirmed. Tho directors had decided thai Mr Peter Barr should be asked to state the Reasons why the diretcors had coins to this conclusion. Air Barr, in seconding the resolution, said he need scarcely assure them that every aspect of the question had received very careful consideration from the directors before they had arrived at their decision. He would refer first to the objections which had been raised against the international proposal. So fax as he was aware, there were only two objections. The first of these was that an international exhibition would be against the manufacturers of New Zealand and therefore unwise, and the second was that it would be against the interests of the Empire, and therefore unpatriotic. As regarded the first of the objections, he would have very little to say about the opposition raised in the north by some of the industrial associations beyond this—that be was quite convinced, in the light of the correspondence they had received, that the opposition in the North Island was confined to a comparatively small section. He was satisfied that there was no general feeling of opposition in the northern centres to this Exhibition, what- , ever scope the directors and the shareholders might decide to adopt. The directors believed that the opposition in the north was not only confined to a small section, but also that it was based on mistaken grounds. (Applause.) They were confirmed in this view by the attitude taken up by the Dunedin manufacturers—at least by a good majority of the , Dunedin manufacturers. They felt that they could rely on the judgment of these manufacturers, who were not afraid to show their coeds in competition with goods from other parts of the world. (Applause.) Personally he felt sure that it would not be against the interests of tho New- Zealand manufacturers, but in their interests, if the scope of the Exhibition was made as broad as possible. He would like to point out to those manufacturers who had doubts about the matter that they could, not shut out opposition from New Zealand. No protective tariff over invented could shut out all imports from -outside countries, and it seemed to him that it must be in the interests of the manufacturers themselves that the goods they had to compete against should be openly shown in their Exhibition. The directors felt also that the awards won in competition with outside countries would be more valuable and be much more highly prized than if they were won in' competition against goods that came from within the Empire only.— (Applause.) None of them were so far advanced in manufacturing that they could not learn from their competitors, and this was an aspect worthy of consideration by those ■who had any doubt about the scope of the exhibition. Their Now .Zealand manufactures were already protected by the wide ocean, by the costs of transit, landing charges. Customs duties, preferential duties, etc. They desired not only to find markets for their primary products, which were their life-blood, but also for their, manufactures. Therefore, they could not say to America or Japan or Europe, when happier times came: “We want you to take these goods of ours, but we don r t want you to exhibit your goods in New Zealand.”— (“Hear, hear.”) He quite refused to believe that the manufacturers in the northern parts -would be blind to their own interests as to stand, aside and not exhibit if the exhibition was to bo international in scope. The northern manufacturers must in their own interests join in and send along their goods.—(“Hear, hear.”) He wanted now to speak of the larger ques- ' tion—that an international exhibition would t<e against the interests of the Empire and therefore unpatriotic. There was no need to say much about exhibits coming from Germany or ex-onomy countries. He was afrAid that they would not get much from any of these countries under tho present \ conditions and circumstances, nor would, he enter at any length on the muchvexed question of Imperial preference. This was a question which interested all of them, and some of them held different views. This question, . however, was outside the point ■whether they should open the doors of their exhibition to friendly people who wanted to send their goods for them to , examine, for their benefit as well as that of the outside exhibitors. There was no inconsistency in the fact that they were to hold an Imperial Exhibition in London and that they in Dunedin were advocating an international exhibition. The London exhibition' was at the heart of the Empire, whereas New Zealand was at the end of tho world. They lived under different circumstances in the Old Country, and the reasons which existed there for holding an Imperial exhibition — confined to Empire products and Empire manufactures —did not exist here. On the contrary, there were strong reasons which justified them in saying that they wished to open the door to others, whatever they might dp in other ways in encouraging Empire trade. They wanted out here to have an exhibition that was international. It had been suggested in the earlier stages of the movement that there might be a lack of patriotism if they made the exhibition an international one, but they in New Zealand and the people of Dunedin and Otago had quite sufficiently demonstrated their loyalty in this connection —no one had the right to charge them with being unpatriotic.—(Applause.) If the meeting decided to have an Imperial exhibition, said the speaker, the directors would be faced with a very practical difficulty in knowing what was really a British product, as goods that contained only 26 per cent, of British labour and British material could come into New Zealand as British and receive the benefit cf the preferential tariff. He did not think that it would cost so much more for an international Exhibition than for an Imperial Exhibition, but anyway they would receive a larger revenue from an international Exhibition. An international Exhibition would also provide a magnificent advertisement for New Zealand in the outside countries. Ij(o did not think that anybody would suggest that they should confine their art exhibits to those pictures which came frovn Britain only nor to those bands that also only came from Britain, But if they wanted to be consistent they would have to shut their doors to everything and everybody from outside countries. They wanted the \ finest music and the finest pictures that their funds could secure, whether they came from France, or America, or Japan, and—should ho say?— Germany. The Exhibition would be primarily for the good of Dunedin and Otago and also the whole of tho dominion, and therefore for the good of the whole of the British Empire.—(Applause.) They wanted to run this Exhibition in no narrow spirit. They wanted to have the doors thrown open wide, so that people, the manufacturers, and art. and music from every port of the world might be represented.—(Applause.) For these reasons the directors sfronglv recommended them to make the Exhibition an international one fLoud applause.) Mr J. A. Brown moved as an amendment that the scope of the Exhibition be Im-

pcriol. Ho said that to-day we.found that at the heart of. the Empire they were holding' an Exhibition, and it was Imperial. We had shown that we were not afraid of anybody. We had a country that had sacrificed everything she had for the preservation of the British Empire, end now they were going to bring foreign goods in to show which was the better. In regard to New Zealand manufacturers, Mr Harr had .said that there wag very little opposition in the north and none in the south. Let them go round the manufacturers hero and see if there was one Who would turn down his own town. Ho was going to do the best he could for his own city. Mr Barr could not possibly interview people in the north. Ho was going to ask shareholders to turn down the international idea and say that in the face of the evidence before them it would be * great big damnable shame. Mr-Seddon seconded the amendment. The Hon. M. Cohen said that they should see this through on the lines of an international Exhibition. Referring to his visit to the TTnited States, and to the friendly reception he had met with on all hands, he said that wherever he had spoken he had recei'-ed the utmost encouragement and the commissioner and representatives of other countries which had been oar allies were sympathetic over a project such as was now proposed. He was not aware that it was ever intended to make this interna-, tional Exhibition open to the late enemies of our country. That would be a great mistake. If Japan sent along specimens metal work and silk, Italy specimens of statuary, and France samples of her products everyone would be proud to see them. Speaking of the Americans he said ha wished to impress upon the meeting the wisdom, and necessity of being connected by every moans in our power with that great republic. A great deal depended upon the friendship between the Saxon race. He hoped that they would go hand in hand and show north New Zealand in particular, and the outride worldin. general that we had faith in our country. His advice in this issue was to stand by tna directors and determine to make the Exhibition a success. —(Applause.) The amendment was then put and lost, only three or four hands being held up in ite favour. Mr Brown desired to move a further amendment but ™ chairman pointed’ out that he had already moved ant amendment which had been lost. A Voice: You cannot move a second. _ The motion was then put and- carried amidst applause. Mr Brown moved that it bo a recommendation to the directors that enemy countries be excluded, and this was seconded by Mr Cohen. Mr Barr said there were no enemy conntries at present. Unfortunately we had bad them, hut we were not at enmity, or war, with any countries, and the sooner we forgot the fact that we had at one time been at war with other countries the sooner the League of Nations would bring about the time when there would bo no more War. Mr Loudon: I think the resolution passed by the meeting as to the Exhibition being international disposes of everything else. The Chairman said he would take a show of hands as to whether the recommendation bo_ considered by the directors, the result being decidedly against it. QUESTION OF SITE. The Chairman then moved that the site of the Exhibition bo Lake Logon. The. question of site had given the director* great concern. The directors had visited all the probable sites and had asked an expert to give a report on the matter.' Th» directors had now decided to recommend that the site be at Lake Logan or a® ha preferred it should be called “Logan Park,’* as they could hardly hold an exhibition on a Jake. Mr C. Todd seconded the motion. He said that the question of sites had been fully discussed on the platform, in the papers, and on the streets for a long time, and that they understood as much about the question in Dunedin as they ever sibly could. He felt very strongly that the directors had come to the right decision in recommending Lake Logan as tile site. The motion was carried amidst applause without a dissentient voice. Dr, Barnett said that the University Students’ Association had some £2OOO in hand. He thought that this money would carry a £ for £! subsidy from the Government. The association would be prepared to spend this money for the purpose of the University sports ground at the Exhibition site. The Chairman said that the directors had’ already considered that aspect of the question, and that they were asking the City Council, the Harbour Beard, the University Council, and other bodies interested to hold a conference with the directors to go into the matter land so avoid any unnecessary expenditure in laying out the ground. They wanted to carry out the building scheme and the layout of the sports ground to meet future requirements. FINANCE. Tiie Chairman said that they had £70,390 worth of shares applied for and taken up. They had also been promised a Government ; grant of £25,000, and they could not expect to get anything definite as regarded a larger grant until Mr Massey returned to New Zealand. When Mr Massey returned he understood that the Government would be asked for further assistance. The 70,000 shares had been applied for or allotted hy 700 people, but there were something Tike 70.0CQ people in Dunedin, and if they would only assist in a small way they would have no' difficulty in raising the necessary capital. It Was absolutely essential that they should have £150,000 in hand to carry the Exhibition Through. If thev did not secure the £lso,oo''’) they would have a difficulty. The best way would be for the citizens to come forward* and say—we are going to have that Exhibition, w e are going to make it a success, ann here’s the money for it,—(Ap- * plause.) They would very soon be setting committed for the various operations of the Exhibiti’vn. Thev had already had offers of assistance from o;iife a number of people, and he was quite sure that if thev out their hearts into the project they would make a thorough success ofvit.—* (Apnlause.) A BROAD HIGHWAY. Mr J. Loudon said the City Councillors, the members of the -Harbour Board, and the citizens of Dunedin should take their courage «n both hands and see that a broad highway was carried out from Anzac Square to Lake Logan. It was one way to clear up the north end of Dunedin. There were slums down there that they wanted to get cleared up', and he believed that a highway would assist, and would be a memorial and a monument to the Exhibition. Ho thought that no time should b© lost in. convening a meeting between the City Council, the Harbour Board, and the directors to see what could be done. There was a feeling that Lake Logan would be used in the future for building and other purposes. He would fight strenuously for it lifting a sports and recreation ground for all time. If it was laid out for recreative purposes 5000 to 6000 persons would occupy the ground every Saturday. Thirty or 40 ‘ acres would be thrown into the city when Urn Pelichet Bay Station was closed down and the railway line deviated. Tiie Chairman said the directors would welcome the opportunity of attending a conference between the City Council and tha Harbour Board as to a broad highway. The meeting then terminated.