N.Z. AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3655, 1 April 1924, Page 25

N.Z. AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

MEETING OF DIRECTORS. A meeting of directors of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company was held in the company’s office on Thursday, Air J. Sutherland Ross (president) being in the chair lae secretary reported that since last meeting £615 worth of additional shares had been allotted, making the total subscription £74,925, which, with guarantees and donations (£1350), made a grand total of £76,275. Air C. Speight, on behalf of the Finance Committee, reported that the committee had instituted an inquiry with the High Commissioner with regard to the appointment of a general manager for the Exhibition The committee had cabled to the High Commissioner suggesting that a general manager be advertised for, the duration of the engagement to be from data of appointment until two months after the closing of the Exhibition. The High Commissioner was also asked to confer with Air A. F. Roberts and to cable any suggestion, but make no appointment without reference to the directors in Dunedin. Air Speight said that Air Roberts had also been asked by cable to confer with the High Commissioner.—lt was decided to confirm the action of the committee. —Air Speight said that when a reply came from Sir James Allen relative to suggestions, advertisements would be inserted in the leading New Zealand and Australian newspapers inviting applications. It was resolved that Sir Owen Cox (Alessrs Birt and Co., Sydney), Air 11. Stephenson Smith (San Francisco), and Air Frank Wil--son (New Plymouth) be. appointed executive commissioners.

It was decided to communicate with the High Commissioner as to the cost of procuring the services of a military band. —Mr Speight pointed out that the military band which was brought out in connection with the Auckland Exhibition was quite an attraction.

Alessrs J. Sutherland Ross and C. Speight voluntarily agreed to sign a £SOOO bond in connection with the creation of the Exhibition grounds as a Customs bond. —The Chairman said that Air Spence had secured a valuable concession, which would be of immense benefit to the company.

Air Speight reported having seen the Minister of Railways with reference to a railway siding to the Exhibition grounds. He understood the cost to the Exhibition Company wou Id be 13611 £SOO and £7OO. The Aiedieal Officer of Health (Dr T. MTvibbin), referring to a request from the Exhibition Company to have the Fever Hospital buildings removed from their present site, stated that he had brought the matter to the attention of the directorgeneral, who himself deals with hospital buildings. Meantime, for the information of the company, he did not think there was any actual danger to the general public from the Fever Hospital buildings provided they were at least 40 feet away from a boundary fence or public road. As the company knew, there were numerous suc-h buildings in many cities. At the same time, however, it was a fact that the Otago Hospital Board had a site for a Fever Hospital set aside at Wakari, and it had included building provision 1 for fevers in its programme of the next five years. The present buildings at Logan’s r'oiut sufficed for the purpose, but were not model fever buildings. It was therefore now a question not so much of possible danger to the public frequenting the Exhibition, but of the removal of these somewhat unsightly buildings and the provision of better accommodation elsewhere. The director-general would decide whether or not any pressure was to be brought to bear upon the Otago Board to build at Wakari, that was, of course, presuming that the board had on its own initiative or in response to the company’s request decided against building. Air H. L. Tapley said that so far the Hospital Board had not been asked to assist in any way, and he thought this was a request which ‘ the board might reasonably accede to. He moved that a deputation consisting of the chairman and Mr Speight, be a deputation to wait on the Hospital Board at its next meeting to urge the removal of the Fever Hospital buildings from their present site. This was seconded by Air P. Barr. The secretary said that the q J istion of having a Alaori pah could scarcely be considered so long as these buildings remained in their present position. —The motion was carried. , , , The matter of space rates and charges for selling goods on stands was referred to a sub-committee consisting of three members of the Space Committee (Alessrs Duthie. Hogg, and Turner) and two members of the Finance Committee. Mr W. R. Hayward, on behalf of the Works Committee, reported that a good many matters connected with the building had ‘ been discussed. He thought that it would be found that corrugated iron would be the cheapest material for the walls in the main, and what was most important it would possess the greatest salvage value. The front of the building would probably be constructed of asbestos. The Chairman said some of the committees had not yet met, and he, personally, was becoming somewhat, anxious. He was specially concerned about housing, and he hoped to have a meeting of the Housing Committee shortly. FIRST APPLICATION FOR SPACE. Reference has already been made to the important matter of space, and this week marks the first forward step in connection with that branch of the revenue-earning side of the N.Z. and South Seas Exhibition. This has been brought about through the receipt by the secretary of the first definite application for space and the payment of a deposit for the same, which event at least shows that even at this early date someone is taking no chances of losing the opportunity of securing space. Letters of an encouraging tone are being received almost daily since the recent issue of circular letter which, by the way, has not yet been circulated widely in New Zealand, owing to insistent oversea claims for supply, but next week should see the dominion quota in the hands of manufacturers, merchants, and indent agents. The following extracts from letters show what some outsiders think of the Exhibition, and should help to convince the citizens of Dunedin that big things are expected of her in respect of the Exhibition i

From all accounts this Exhibition should prove successful, and we think it will be one of the best held in the dommioit For our part, we shall be very glad to sup* port it to the limit of our capacity. Lt is evident that your Ev hi hi ton it going to b? the biggest Exhibiton that New Zealand has seen for many years, and we- are desirous of i sing such a valuable advertising medium.