MARVELLOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 27

MARVELLOUS.

GENERAL MANAGER'S OPINION. “In the first place,’’ said Mr Hain» worth, in reply to an interviewer. “I claim to have special ./ledge of this type of work, which enables me to | form what you might call a professional >. opinion. When I arrived in Wellington , nearly 13 months ago, without a special knowledge of the country, I began my southern trek wondering where the people j were to be drawn from. When I saw the 6cope and magnitude of the undertaking I was amazed at the remarkable confidence the people of Dunedin had displayed in , building such a place. However, after the early difficulties, the whole road seems j to have been one of continued success. ‘ “Speaking of the exhibits generally,” Mr Hainsworth went on, “which are, when all is said and done, the backbone of a show of this nature, I consider they were as thoroughly representative as it was pos- , sible for them to be. Every branch of manufacture was displayed, and in such I a way as to bring the greatest possible . credit to the various firms first for the i elaborate stand, and secondly for the very / artistic methods of displaying the goods within- The manufacturers at Home have the advantage of experience. They are , often exhibiting at many trade exhibitions i each year, some of the larger firms even \ keeping special exhibition staffs, whereas in the Dominion I doubt if there is any staff for that particular purpose. When j you compare these displays on this occa- ; sion with those put up at Home, and take j those factors into consideration it is mar- , vellous what has been accomplished. For f the most part, even apart from the facta ( I have mentioned. I think the shows put /. up hero are difficult to beat anywhere li|^

the world. lam expressing this as my) fconest opinion, backed by the experience of fcO exhibitions.” Mr Hainsworth added that if any mistake had been made it had boon through the permitting of rather more selling stands than waa desirable, the beauty of an Exhibition and the value being in the goods that were shown for display purposes only. Where sales crept in there was always the danger of an exhibition being classed as a market or a big shop. ‘‘l am not suggesting that it has been overdone,” he •aid. “but 1 am inclined to think that it would have been better had the number been reduced.” Referring to the results that were expected, Mr Hainsworth remarked that an exhibition was glorified advertising, and the firm that looked for the immediate results to pay the some,, hat heavy charges which exhibition displays usually involved was doomed to disappointment. The fact remained, however, that to show at good exhibitions w&a bound to lead to good business results. That had been proved over find over again. “I would like to add,” Mr Hainsworth said, “that many firms have intimated their entire satisfaction at the results already achieved, and in proof of that one of the exhibiting firms has given a very handsome prize to the three million and first visitor as a token of its appreciation of the business already secured.” Mr Hainsworth was particularly pleased with the Amusements Park. “No inter national exhibition is complete without, an amusement park, and in this respect the devices selected are among the most modern >it. is possible to secure, and they have proved themselves exceedingly popular. The lay-out of the park was also quote satisfactory. “I cannot allow this opportunity to pass,” he went on, “without expressing in the highest terms my appreciation of the very valuable help ungrudgingly given by the various departments—Railways, Police. Fire Brigade, Customs, Post and Telegraph, and others, as well as the local bodies. All these officials have been ever ready to ponder any assistance is their power, and •hey have played a very important part in the success of the undertaking as a whole. I would also live to refer to the conduct and behaviour of the visitors which, on all occasions, has been most exemplary. The people here seem to know what is wanted of them, and indeed I was never at another place where the crowds were so easily controlled. “It has been my privilege,” he continued, “to have been associated with committees of management, boards of directors, and governing bodies for the past 24 years, but T would like to state that I have never been connected with any body of gentlemen with whom it has been such a pleasure to be associated as the directors of this Exhi bition. They have spared neither time nor money nor physical effort to make it the success it has proved itself to be. ’i d I feel that the citizens of Dunedin. OLigo, and the whole Dominion are under a very deep debt of gratitude for the magnificent |>art they have plaved in the history of New Zealand A Their work has extended over two and n-half Ion" and arduous years, not only the five months. “Then there i 9 the band, f claim a certain amount of personal pride in the fact that I was responsible for recommending to the directors what is undoubtedly the star attraction —the Band of the 2nd Battalion 93rd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders It has bpen my privilege to engage this band under the conductorship of Mr F. J Ricketts, annually for the past 15 years in England and Scotland at various Exhibitions. and I considered it my first duty at the directors’ meeting to put forward the claims of this musical combination. I bad had the experience of what they could do. and as they were in the nature of a drawing force at Home, I ventured to stake mv reputation on what I was convinced would be an enormous success if they could be secured for this Exhibition. I was confident thev would be the draw that was required, and I am proud to say that they have acquitted themselves with glory.”