THE EXHIBITION MANAGER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 16

THE EXHIBITION MANAGER.

FAREWELL TO MR HAINSWORTH. What Mr J. Sutherland Ross described as one of the last scenes of one of Dunedin’s greatest acts of the century was staged in the Somerset Lounge, Savoy, on Thursday, when the directors of the New Zealand and South Seas •Exhibition met to say farewell to Mr C. P. Hainsworth, the manager, and to Mrs Hainsworth. The chairmen of the various committees and their wives, and the friends of-Mr and Mrs Hainsworth, were also the guests of the directors. Mr Ross, who presided over the gathering, which was of a happy and informal nature, remarked that Great Britain seemed to be the only country that could produce exhibition managers, and even America had to send to Great Britain for men to manage her exhibitions. He added that Mr Hains--worth had been selected from a list of 160 applicants, and his appointment was, in his opinion, one of the best day’s work they ever did. “Exhibition managers are a race apart,” said Mr Ross. “It needs a man who has made a life study of the work to make a success of such an Exhibition as we have staged.” The speaker also paid a tribute to Mr Hainsworth’s unfailing equanimity and geniality, and to the manner in which he had helped in tarrying the venture to a triumphant success. Mrs Hainsworth, too, had been of very real assistance, especially in the Woman's Section. Though Mr and Mrs

Hainsworth were leaving them, there was one representative of the family staying behind —their son Jack, whose job, he believed, would be to make two apples grow where one blade of grass grew before. “They leave us with our heartiest wishes for their welfare,” Mr Ross concluded, and a keen desire on the part of all of us that we will have the pleasure of meeting them here again.” The Chairman’s remarks were heartily endorsed by the Deputy Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner) and by Mr James Hogg, who represented the manufacturers of New Zealand. Mr Hogg said that the thanks of the shareholders and citizens and the people of Dunedin should go out to Messrs Hafcsworth and Spence for the success they had made of the Exhibition. Mr Hainsworth, in reply, mentioned that Mr W. E. C. Reid had been the first Dunedin man he had met after his appointment to the position. He had called on him at his hotel in London, and he remembered that he had asked him to give his impressions of the various directors.— (Laughter.) “He certainly made me think,” M> Hainsworth added, “but I will not say what he told me. The time has been somewhat strenuous,” he went on, “and I must admit that this Exhibition was the hardest I have ever tackled. I have been connected with bigger undertakings, but this one required closer attention, and I found that it was impossible to leave my desk, for there was, 1 felt, so much involved in it.” Mr Hainsworth mentioned that he bad known some exhibitions that had paid over and above their dividend, but then it had to be remembered that the population in these centres had been four times greater than ;

that of the whole of New Zealand. The directors had put in an enormous amount of work in making the undertaking such a success. They had put their shoulders to the wheel and had seen that the wheel went round, and he thought that the whole community, and New Zealand in general, should be proud of these 10 men. Mr Hainsworth also expressed his appreciation of the work Mr Spence had done, and added that he looked upon him as one of his best friends.. “The whole undertaking has been one of work right through/’ he concluded, “and all have willingly done their best to make it a success. We shall leave Dunedin with a feeling that we are leaving a host of generous friends, and we shall often talk about you all. I thank you.” Songs were contributed by several of the ladies present, and Mr and Mrs Hainsworth were heartily acclaimed as “jolly good fellows.”