TORONTO EXHIBITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19969, 10 December 1926, Page 14

TORONTO EXHIBITION

INTERESTING INFORMATION. PART PLAYED BY NEW ZEALAND. ADDRESS BY MR J. W. COLLINS. There was a large gathering of members of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce at the Somerset Lounge last night to hear an address by Mr J. W. Collins, secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, on the Canadian National Exhibition. Mr H. C. Campbell (president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce) said that members had been called together to hear an address by Mr Collins, who had just re turned from attending the exhibition held - at Toronto. In Mr Collins, he felt sure they would all agree, they had a man who had done yeoman service to the Dominion —(“Hear, hear.”) It had been only a few years since the Trades and Industries Department had been inaugurated, and it had taken some time before a Minister had been appointed to that department. He thought that Mr Collins honestly deserved their best thanks. —(Applause.) They woula also bo given an opportunity of listening to Mr Adam Paterson, who would give them some information regarding his trip to the Homeland. Before these addresses were delivered, however Mr J 4 Taylor, on© of tho Dunedin : delegates to the annual conference of the Associated Chambers held in Wellington, would give them a brief summary of the business transacted at the conference. A ' very fine spirit had been shown at the conference by the delegates from all parts ’ of the Dominion. Some of the remits which had been brought forward were perhaps not quite in the interests of the North 1 Island, but the northern delegates to a man had voted for them and said - that the ' south was rightly entitled to them. He : would like to add that they had with them that night their old veteran, the Hon. Mark Cohen.—(Applause). , Mr Taylor gave a summary of the work done at the conference of the Associated Chambers and was heartily applauded for his report. Mr W. Gow also briefly spoke on the work done at the conference.. ADDRESS BY MR COLLINS. Mr Collins, who was received with loud applause, said it was a great pleasure to him to meet the members of the chamber ' and again to re-visit Dunedin after an absence of nearly seven months, during which time, as they knew, he had had the ’ privilege of representing the Government at the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto Just prior to leaving Dunedin he had had the duty of dismantling the Government section of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, but it was a source of particular satisfaction to him that many of the exhibits had been made available for the overseas display, combined with the pick of exhibits from ihe provincial courts. If success had been achieved at Toronto, then the credit was largely due to excellence of the exhibits that the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition had been ; able to provide. Their exhibition availability under one roof had enabled the Government to make a selection at little expense and trouble. Indeed, the co-opera-tion with the Government of exhibitors at the local Exhibition had been most commendable, and thev were thus able to present to Canadians an outstandingly fine : exhibit of their products, manufactures, minerals and sporting and tourist attractions. He had been fortunate in being associated, with Mr Peter Barr, ex-chairman of the Dunedin Chamber, who had been appointed commissioner and had approved of the selection of the exhibits made in New Zealand, As they knew, Mr Barr left before him to proceed to Toronto, via the United States, and he was to join him and take charge at Toronto in August. Unfortunately, owing to an illness contracted in; Honolulu, Mr Barr had not been able to take an active part. He hadbeen able, however, to inspect the New Zealand section, and had expressed to him his satisfaction with the work that had been done. ' . Dealing in chronological order with the events that had led up to New Zealand's participation in the Canadian National Exhibition, he would like to say that some five years ago the late Mr Massey, on his return through Canada from an Imperial Conference, had given a definite promise that New Zealand would make a national display on behalf of New Zealand. Mr Massey had named no definite date, and preparations in connection with the New Zealand Government’-s- displays at the British Empire Exhibition, and at New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition, had precluded favonr- ! able consideration being given to the invitation until this year. Apart from the exhibits drawn from Wembley and from Dunedin, in some cases entirely new exhibits had been provided. Wembley, however, had provided much useful exhibition material, particularly the large murals, depicting the best of our scenic attractions. In all over 200 tons of exhibits had been shipped in May last direct to Montreal, and, having supervised the selection of these exhibits, he had felt confident the Dominion would be able to made an educative, interesting, and effective display. SPLENDIDLY-MANAGED FAIR. Leaving aside for the moment the question of New Zealand’s participation, he would-like to give them a brief review of the Canadian National Exhibition, which had the reputation of being the best managed and the largest annual fair in the world. The exhibition was located on the shores of Lake Ontario, in a public park of nearly 300 acres, and there were 80 buildings available for exhibition purposes. Its situation was ideal, and it •was, served by frequent tram services from the centre of the city. Wide, well-paved roads enabled motorists to reach the grounds within 15 minutes from the centre of Toronto. TORONTO. Toronto was a progresive city with an area of 40 square miles and a population of approximately 600,®00 people. It was the second largest city in the Canadian Continent, and was the centre of education and of manufactures. It was a city of beautiful architecture and of delightful < homes, 63 per cent, of which were owned 1 by their occupants. Toronto had a tramway system, which had been pronounced by experts as being one of the most efficient in the world. Toronto was the principal town in the province of Ontario, a province nearly four times larger in area than New Zealand, and which was proudly referred to by its citizens as the “banner’’ province of all Canada. ONTARIO. From farming Ontario derives an annual income approximating £100,000,000; from manufacturing, £400,000,000; and from forestry, £20,000,000. The population of the province was approximately 3,100,000, and it contained within its borders one-third of the population of all Canada. He mentioned these facts to emphasise the suitability of the province of Ontario and of the town of Toronto to stage the great exhibition enterprise of which all Canada was justly proud. In choosing Toronto for its location its promoters had been no doubt mindful of its favourable climate, its historical associations, and its accessibility to the great populations of Eastern Canada and the big centres of the United States. Approximately 109,000,000 people were within one night’s train journey of Toronto. Another influencing factor must have been the nearness of the Niagara Falls, which are within three hours of the city by steamer. This great cataract and the Canadian National Exhibition ensured that travellers might witness in one day Nature’s most sublime effort and man’s greatest achievement in an exhibition sense. INTERESTING FEATURES. For those seeking recreation the exhibition had been a marvellously rich field. The best bands of Europe, the United States, and Canada were heard; there were musical and instrumental competitions, supported by a mixed choir of 2000 voices. There were Government displays and competitions, demonstrations, welfare, health, and educational displays, and thril- , ling spectacles were given each afternoon and evening in fi'ont of a grand stand i having a capacity for seating 20,000 i people. This spectacle cost over 50,000d0l j ( annually to produce, and it had all the < colom-, glamour, and gaiety of the Orient. I There were also mammoth live stock and ' : agricultural displays, also acres upon acres ( of manufactured goods, and generous zones 1 devoted to amusements. There was some- i

thing to please every taste, and no class of the population was overlooked. HUGE ATTENDANCES. The exhibition had opened its gates for the forty-eighth consecutive year on August 28 last, and during the 13 days it had been open 1,573,000 people had paid for admission. This total denoted a record of 120.000 per day. On one particular day 258.000 people had attended, and had completely crowded the grounds and exhibition buidings from 9 o’clock in the morning until 11 o’clock at night. People had come from all parts of the world, from all the provinces of Canada, from all the States of America, the British Isles, and Continental Europe. , The. Canadian National Exhibition has a great magnet, and despite its present great size was proving inadequate to the demands of exhibitors. More acres and more buildings were being added annually. QUESTION OF FINANCE. New Zealand business men would naturally ask how much an exhibition was managed and financed. To this he would reply that the exhibition buildings and the grauuds virtually belonged to the city of Toronto except during the short penod when the exhibition was held. The park was practically open to the people all the year round, and whilst other shows were held for a short period, the buildings, were practically empty for the remainoer of the year. Some of the buildings, howi ever, were being increasingly used lor the holding of conventions, whilst otner buildings were open to the public in the summer and autumn to be used as luncheon rooms while picnicking in the park. The utmost care was taken to keep the equipment, buildings and park in good order. This was controlled and paid for by the city. The exhibition itself was managed by a permanent staff of officials, 1 including a general assistant manager, treasurer, and publicity officer. A board of about 20 leading citizens was elected by the exhibitors, and the Mayor 1 ot the city was a member. Permanent 1 offices were taken in the centre of the 1 city, and there appears to be ample work ’ to be done to keep this staff fully occupied all the year round. During the course of ! the exhibition the staff was increased by ’ the engagement of nearly 2000 temporary I hands. Approximately £150,000 was spent | annually m staging and arranging the | exhibits and on special attractions. , ATTRACTIVE BUILDINGS. 1 As to the manner in which the buildings were financed he would give them a ; actual case. One of the most attractive buildings in the grounds was devoted to displays of food products. The building itself wks called the “Pure Food Building, and was erected by the City Council on guarantees being given by the Pure Food Association, the individual members of which agreed to take a certain amount of spa* annually for ten consecutive years at a rental of 2s 6d per square foot. _ i These guarantees were taken to the City Council, and upon this basis the city ! authorised the issue of debentures necessary to cover the cost of the erection of , the building. The buildings constructed ; on this basis automatically became vested [ in the city for exhibition purposes. The [ Ontario Government had completed this year a magnificent building costing | £120.000 for the display of the products • of Ontario and to demonstrate the work of Government departments. This building was, of course, financed by the Government. Whilst it had become the property of the city, standing as it did on city ground, it could be used at all times of the year by the province for exhibition purposes. So successful had' this policy been that further buildings were contem plated. . ■■■'■' . Automobile and electric appliance in ' dustries were enthusiastic supporters oi 1 the exhibition, and both these industries were hampered for space at present. The ' probabilities were that new buildings would have to be provided for these great ’ industries in the course of the next few 1 years. Another huge uilding had been planned to be used exclusively for the display of exhibits from all parts of the British Empire. Tne Federal Government of Canada had practically agreed to finance this building, and had it .not been for the recent political unrest the work would have been under way. When this building eventuated it would be the home for any exhibits that New Zealand might provide in future years. This, then, was the exhibition at which New Zealand had been invited to show its exhibits. An area of 20,000 square feet in a huge building occupying 8i acres of ground had been allocated for the purpose. Here they were able to stage in a very pleasing setting some of the products which had made New Zealand famous all over the world. WOOL, FLAX. ETC. Particularly fine displays had been made of wool, flax and its by-products, seeds, tobacco, and fruit. So far as meat, butter, and cheese were concerned, our world export trade position was demonstrated by models and charts. _ The progress in humanitarian legislation, .particularly, in the conservation of infant life, had been interestingly sho\.n, and had created a good deal of enthusiasm. The work and functions of several of our State departments, notably the Mines, Railways, Post Office, State Forest Service, Industries and Commerce, External Affairs, and Dominion Museum,-had also been fully demonstrated, whilst their progress in manufactures had been most convincingly and effectively shown by displays of woollen goods, such as rugs, blankets, underwear, confectionery leather and footwear, reversible woollen rugs, binder twine and rope, preserves, condiments and furniture. PUBLICITY WORK. The arts, crafts, and products of Uic Samoan and Cook Islands had also made a colourful display, whilst our sporting and seenio attractions were concentrated in a well-lighted bay covering over 2000 ft of space. The kinema, in which New Zealand films had been screened, also attracted crowded audiences, and this publicity was supplemented by the free issue of publications provided from the main cities ana harbour boards of New Zealand, together with excellent specially-selected illustrative folders and booklets from the United Stales Government Publicity Department. In all approximately 20 tons of printing matter had been distributed all over Canada and the. United States. Those who had experience of previous publicity efforts stated that the publications issued by the New Zealand section were of such quality and interest as had not been equalled at the Exhibition The publications had been not only carefully distributed from the information bureau at the Exhibition, but they were sent by post to leaders of the Legislature, Government departments, and the Bar. chambers of commerce, boards of trade, publicity commissions, automobile associations, and representatives of big industries, many of whom, hearing their worth, sped ally requested to bo supplied with copies In order to further advertise the New Zealand section and to form a line between the city of Toronto and the New Zealand display, two spacious windows in the city had been taken and a New Zealand exhibit shown. So popular wore these exhibits that police protection had to be sought to clear the traffic. It - would be difficult to estimate the extent of the advertisement New Zealand derived from the literature supplied on Labour Day. The greatest weight of pamphlets given out was in the vicinity of 13cwt. Slates as far distant as Florida and California, apart from the various provinces which had their day at the Exhipition, had been well represented by groups of inquirers. It would be safe to say that the New Zealand literature was taken to the homes of 50,000 Americans and 400,000 Canadians. IGNORANCE OF NEW ZEALAND. Ho did not propose to describe the section in detail, but he would like to say that the public was loud in its praise of New Zealand’s gesture of friendship to the Canadian nation in sending such a composite exhibit. Little was known in Canada concerning the Dominion, and some of the questions as to its location wore most laughable. In one case we were “reckoned” to be off Vancouver Island. „ The Exhibition bad udoubtedly placed Now Zealand on the map, and it was pleasing to those associated with it to learn that it had been regarded as one of the most_ attractive, national exhibits ever made since the Canadian National Exhibition had been inaugurated. The objective the New Zealand Government had in view had been, of course, to make Now Zealand better known in Canada, to attract tourists, and to increase our trade. In all three cases he believed that the expectations of the Government would be realised. OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND’S EXHIBITS. In the provision of exhibits the provinces of Otago anfl Southland had played a worthy part. > He was afc’■ to secure from the provincial displays some splendid specimens of our native birds, together with friezes depicting the scenery of the dis- i trict painted by Mr Brock, some mountain trout and salmon, beautiful specimens of native timbers, a most attractive collection of preserved fruit, and two dozen art photographs, the work of Mr George Chance. The manufacturers of Dunedin had also provided dressed leathers, footwear, leather suit and dress cases, woollen

goods, jams and condiments, and chocolates. In the civic section due emphasis had been given to Dunedin’s' architectural beauty, its civic progress, and its educational and harbour facilities. The model of the harbours of Port Chalmers and Dunedin, prepared by the Lands and Survey Department, had created a great deal of favourable comment and much public interest. TRADE POSSIBILITIES. In regard to trade he had not been at all sanguine when he left New Zealand that much could be done seein gthat Canada, like New Zealand, was a primary producing country, and, furthermore, that Canada was practically self contained so far as manufacturing was concerned. VVhat then wera our prospects? Whilst not able to go into details on this occasion he believed that in several lines they would be able to increase their existing trade —in wool, gelatine, sausage casings, and skins, hides, and pelts, seeds, and kauri gum. In lines in which they did not at present trade he believed there were excellent prospects in capturing from foreign markets the trade in casein and flax. In Toronto alone there were four firms using 700 tons of casein annually. For some reason hard to explain they had lost the bulk of their trade in flax, and as binder twine was so largely used he was impressing upon their flaxmillers the necessity of fostering the Canadian market, so with reasonable effort they should be able to sell their splendid flax' against the sisal now purchased by Canada from Mexico. He had evidence that their manufactured woollen goods, such as travelling rugs and blankets, which caused such favourable notice at the Exhibition could be sold readily in Canada, and to an even greater extent cheaper lines of woollens could be sold in very large quantities. He knew that they could sell the excellent reversible floor rugs made in Auckland, and he was ssiiguine that the coco beans of Samoa would also find a ready market. Canadians were fully seized with the need for trading within the Empire, and with this object in view, they now advertised the slogan in the New Zealand Court: “If you cannot- buy in Canada, will you trade with us?” This slogan had gained for them a sympathetic hearing from importers and manufacturers, and now they have seen the New Zealands products and manufactures he believed they would prefer to trade with ua. In his public speeches made in various parts of Canada he had received the most cordial reception, because of the popularity of the country he represented, because of the revelation and education our exhibits afforded, and because of the fact that 100,000 of our soldiers had found real cousiuship with 500>000 Canadians on thd Western battlefields 10 short years ago. Good seed had been sown, excellent propaganda had been spread. He asked* will the Dunedin Chamber how help the department along in its future efforts to tighten, strengthen, and extend the trade_ with this great friendly nation so cotnpartively near our doors. In this effort they would bo doing Empire work and would give a real meaning to the words of that inspiring scng which awakened a responsive chord in the hearts of all Britishers: Wider yet and wider, shall hty bounds God Who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet. —(Loud applause.) , , . A vote of thanks to Air Collins for hi* comprehensive report was carried by acclamation.