N.Z. AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19475, 9 May 1925, Page 15

N.Z. AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

MEETING IN OAMARU

Addresses by Messrs STEEL AND TAVERNER.

A CORDIAL RECEPTION. (Fbom Ou.u Own Cobeespondent.) OAMAIIU, May 8. A meeting of representatives of local bodies was held in the Municipal Chambers in Oamaru on Friday afternoon to consider the question of ways and moans in connection with tho proposed Otago Provincial Court at the Dunedin Exhibition. Representatives of tho Borough Council, the Waitaki County Council, and tho Oamaru Harbour Board ware present. Mr \V. B. Taverner (chairman of the Otago Provincial Court Committee) and Mr W. B. Steel (organiser of the court) were also present. The chair was occupied by the Mayor (Mr J. JM'Diarmid). Mr Taverner explained that when steps had been taken in regard to the Otago Court it was stated that the space allotted for the court would bo 5000 H, but this would probably bo increased. It was proposed to make a feature of wool, gram, and other primary produce, and together with these would be exhibits from the woollen mills, etc. The whole of the space would bo free to exhibitors. iho exhibits would be the property of tho exhibitors, though those who were in generous mood might give them to the Exhibition Company. It waa desired that, local committees should be established in each part ot tho province. These would procure exhibits representative of the amorcM parts of tho province, and would co-operate with the Central Committee. In the centre of tho court it was proposed that there should be a reception room m which Otago citizens could meet. Provision would aso be made for historical exhibits. Ihe proposals wore at present tentative, but they wore rapidly developing to a concrete form. The people of Dunedin wore at prosent thinking of nothing but iho Exhibition, and it was hoped that Oamaru would become enthusiastic over what was ho one of the biggest business propositions over undertaken m the (lonnnion. lt was desired that Oamaru should be repre seated on the Central »«£ R g was expected‘that 0 Oamaru would. make Canterbury was going tom* o that frozen meat and pa rticuOamaru should do uk^?[i“ u - v ‘of the larly as the frozen. n.ca mdusuy i^ dominion has its on & , effort, and’ he -"CbcVlhcomirc ““ Tlpyt , *gw!£Br* tended giving t |' e , , over had in their biggest “go’, they had over lives. Provision a Exhibition • buildings eastern side of th ® ’ Southland had f ° r ,h ? S lf of space ‘at the entrance secured 260Jft ot »P . t goOOIt, with and Otago was to ha»° a .~ u wanted a probable increase. - , „ Zealand to do was to show the re f to of tlio msini Oamaru borough adopted by 1 V. lbnl „ £l5O, and was being asked to contribute » tho Waitaki county for £SOO. Lpto , STtS S r^ng d or. 1 SVnerM K"w.d Wa tha?h efforts. It was not necessary that the contributions Shored expenditure! 1 " le^larion ordinary nwenue. Mr Stool stated that they had Urn men and the material, and h hoped they would find the money too. Ho trusted that they would agree to form an active committee in Oamaru which would work enthusiastically for tho on ‘T Kr ™ t , | ject. The southern part of Otago had offered its active support. Central Otago was doing likewise, and ho felt sure that North Otago would not lie found wanting. In conclusion, Mr Steel stated that opportunities did not come every day. Ho hoppd they would seize this opportunity of advertising their resources far and wide.—(ApP In answer to a question, Mr Steel stated that Canterbury had applied for 5000 ft up to date. Southland, which was a much simHer province, had applied for 2600 ft to date. ... Mr W. Gardiner asked if tho assessment of Dunedin city was a reasonable one when it was compared with that of tho Waitaki county. , f Mr Steel explained that tho assessment had been made on tho relative capital value. Mr J. M'Laron pointed out that a considerable portion of the Waitaki county capital value was not rateable. Mr Steel stated that this was the case in every district. Ho had taken- the gross capital value of nil districts ns a basis of his assessment, Mr Taverner mentioned that it was costing the Dunedin city about £200,0000 to provide for tho Exhibition. They were also expending £30,000 on a tramway, to the Exhibition. Mr W. Gardiner stated that Dunedin would have a permanent asset at the conclusion of tho Exhibition. Mr Taverner admitted that this was so, but ho stated that Dunedin was undertaking heavy responsibilities. , Tho Mayor asked what it was proposed to do in tho case of a deficit. Mr 'Taverner stated that there would bo no deficit on the provincial court. It was proposed to sell fruit from Central Otago in tho provincial court. This would yield a certain amount of revenue. In answer to a further question by the Mayor, Mr Taverner stated that any loss on tho Exhibition as a whole would bo borne by tho Exhibition Company. They did not expect to make a big profit, Mr Gardiner stated that while ho considered tho assessment of the, Waitaki County was rather high ho felt sure that North Otago would respond liberally. This was a dominion affair, and not a Punodin one. Personally, ho was going to assist the project all ho could. The matter would have to bo decided by tho local bodies themselves. Ho ventured to say that they would show the rest of tho province that they were really small potatoes compared with Oamaru. Messrs G. Livingstone and W. Nicholson staled that tho Waitzki Comuy Council would give tho project its warmest support. They could not promise a definite sum in the meantime. • Mr 11. Deal, a member ot tho Oamaru Borough Council, mentioned that he had inspected the Exhibition buildings, and was surprised at then magnitude. The Mayor stated that the Borough Council. like the county, would have to discuss tho matter before giving a definite reply. At tile same time, he promised that the project woiijd receive favour;!bio consideration. He thought himself that the assessment was reasonable. Ho asked if revenue for the court could not be secured from secondary industries. Mr Steel stated that the secondary industries would be exhibited in another part of the building. The provincial court was intended for primary produce only. Tho Mayor stated that the matter would bo brought before iho local authorities, and a definite, reply would bo made by those to the Central Committee. A hearty vote of thanks to Messrs’ Taverner and Steel terminated the mooting.