EXHIBITION AND THE CRITICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19196, 12 June 1924, Page 13

EXHIBITION AND THE CRITICS.

' FOREIGN TIMBER. SIR TRAVERS CLARKE’S DEFENCE. (From Our Own Correspondknt.) LONDON, May 6. Last, week the editor of The People, a Sunday newspaper, set out to find some of tfio weak spots in the Exhibition organisation. Among other things he made the statement that his Majesty the King proclaimed the Exhibition open from a dais of United States timber. Since the article containing this statement appeared General Sir Travers Clarke, chief Administrator, has been approached and certain questions have been put to him. “Is it true that the Royal dais was made of foreign wood?'’ was the first. “This question is still under discussion by the High Commissioners,” Sir Travers replied. “The tlais wits a rush job. Three weeks before the onening it was not decided upon; wo were going to use the grand stand. There are some things in building which you cannot, get from within the Empire, and so we had to use foreign wood. Rut, the King stood upon British oak, and the thrones are made of Canadian pine.” “Is it, true that many of the waiters employed in the restaurants are foreign; born?” "Yes; there are naturally many foreignborn waiters; but, when you ask a vast concern like Lyons to lake charge of the catering, you cannot expect them to provide an ad hoc organisation. They bring along their ordinary staff.” “What has happened over the seats of the Exhibition? East week, thousands complained that they could not sit down without being charged.” “Free seats will most certainly be provided. Unfortunately, the first lot that arrived were placed in the North Garden and were not seen or used by the first crowds. But they are gradually coming in, and they are now in the eastern side of the grounds.” THE PREMATURE OPENING. “Why did you allow it to be said that the Exhibition was ready when it wasn’t, instead of putting out the truth?” “As 1 have already said, it would have been a violation of all exhibition principles if we had been complete at an opening. As it was, over SO per cent, of the whole Exhibition was ready. You must remember that the British Government has no control to-day over the Empire, really, and we couldn’t help exhibits being late. “I was .idvised also that, if we postponed the opening date, things would he no better when we did open. After all, we were not responsible for what the people said, and I agree that it was not good for the Exhibition. The worst of a place like this is that you always notice the gaps, not the exhibits.” “Why are net the roads finished?” “To all intents and purposes they are. They will never be right till we stop all motor traffic, which we cannot do until all the exhibits are in. Again, the clay subsoil is terrible. It becomes, with ram and pressure, like cream. And Londoners, with their wood-block roads, arc spoilt. The man from the provinces does not complain. It we have only some dry weather, you won't complain of the mud, but dust. We could not concrete all the roads, as it would cost too much. “We are grateful for criticism and will always try to answer it; but, of course, in a vast concern like this, we cannot "uaranteo everything. But good weather and a bright sun will work wonders.’’ The average daily attendance —from April 23 to May 2—according to Sir Travers Clarke, lias been about 45,000.