MARLBOROUGH’S PART.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 26

MARLBOROUGH’S PART.

THE “GOLDEN PROVINCE.” The presence of the Marlborough Court in the Exhibition has been of great value to the “golden” province—value that will make itself apparent long after the Exhibition is but a memory Such is the opinion of Mr N. Paton, Marlborough’s commissioner. He stated that the Progress League in Blenheim wa9 to be congratulated on its enterprise in having adopted such a comprehensive display as a means of publicity. “For many years,” he added, “Marlborough has been in the backwash, as it were but now she is coming into her own. That such a wonderful province should have been so little known in the past may be attributed to the lack of publicity, and possibly in a smaller extent to a certain amount of isolation, due to the need for improved means of communication. As evidence that these disadvantages are being overcome, one has only to point to the evolution of the motor car, which has done much to improve the means of transit in that province- Moreever, the Union Steam Ship Company must have realised 1 iafc Marlborough has a great future, for it recently had a new vessel —the Tamahine—specially built for the Cook Strait ferry service. The Government has also awakened to the necessity of having a main South Island Trunk railway, and surveys are now being undertaken with a view to the practicability of having the 81 mile break linked up “Upon completion of this important work the travelling public will have an opportunity more fullv to realise that the possibilities of the province—its beautiful scenic resorts in the Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sounds, its fertile soil in the Wairau and other districts—will be unlimited. There wonderful crops of wheat and barley are grown to perfection, lucerne and clovers flourish, fine woolled merinos and other breeds of sheep are to be found, and dairy, iner and cattle raising are as yet in their infancy. Marlborough owes much to its wonderful climate, the effect being reflected in the outstanding qualities of its primary products. Geographically, Marlborough is very well placed, being practically in the centre of New Zealand, and has the advantage of a seaport—Picton—onlv some 52 miles from Wellington. “Many of the visitors who were attracted to the Exhibition had never seen Marlborough—in fact, they did not realise its existence, so it is safe to sav that the court has put Marlborough ‘on the map,’ and the slogan, ‘See New Zealand First/ applies very much to this province Unfortunately, in the early stages cf the Exhibition the court did not adequately convey the impression that was intended. Those responsible possibly had not realised the magnitude **nd scope of the Exhibition However, considerable improvements were eventually made, and these commended themselves to visitors to such an extent that the attendance each day increased beyond all expectations.” The fact that Marlborough is only one of the smaller provinces that had a selfcontained court at the Exhibition has not been lost sight of bv the public, for the commissioner received congratulations from the many visitors who passed through the court. The farming community especially found much to interest it in t’.iis court, and many made comnarisons of the products shown in the Marlborough Court with those produced in their own provinces. The verdict was usually in favour of “Golden Ma rl borough.” Even the Government officials recognised the quality and make up of the Marlborough exhibit, for have thev not selected the flax seeds and whale oil for display at the Toronto Exhibition? A’o, there is the possibility that the wonderful friezes and many of the photographs which attracted tourists from all parts of the world will be included in the Torontr exhibit. The attractive display of the products of Marlborough at the court induced hundreds of visitors to make inquiri s as to the possibilities for settlement in the district. Several sportsmen, interested in deer stalking and fishing, also made up their minds to visit Marlborough in the near future. The commercial aspect of the court has been a great ‘boost” for Marlborough, many clients having been found for dairy produce, wine 9, honey, and fruit. The hat exhibit, whilst it might have been more appropriately staged in the Secondarv Industries Section, attracted considerable attention, not only from the public but also from the trade. In the opinion of Mr Paton, the producers of Marlborough should seriously consider the appointment of a trade commissioner or agent to follow np and extend the conections already established as the

result of the Exhibition. Marlborough has the climate, the products, and tl scenery, and it is up to her to extend further the reputation made at the Exhibition by increased publicity in every way possible.