SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3885, 28 August 1928, Page 10

SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS

NEED FOR ADEQUATE BUILDINGS. PROPOSED ERECTION AT TAHUNA PARK. After supper had been dispensed at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association on Tuesday the president (Mr J. Sutherland Ross) introduced a subject of vital importance to the City of Dunedin and the province of Otago—a proposal now on foot for the erection of buildings which will adequately serve the purposes of the Winter Show and the exhibitions held by the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association. He said they had come to a proposal which had been outlined some time ago, dealing with the erection of permanent show and exhibition buildings at Tahuna Park. The Manufacturers’ Association had held conferences with the Otago A. and P. Society, and he must say that a large amount of enthusiasm had been shown on both sides. There was no getting away from the fact that if this proposal was going to be carried to a successful issue all classes of the community must take a keen personal interest in it.

The proposal was outlined by Mr J. Hogg, who said that the retiring president of the association (Mr T. Somerville) had made it evident in his remarks that a proposal was on foot between the A. and P. Society and the Manufacturers’ "Association with respect to the erection of show and exhibition buildings adequate for the needs of the city and for the primary and secondary industries of the province. Any remarks which he might make would not commit the members of either the A. and P. Society or the Manufacturers’ Association. It was only because they had found a difficulty in going ahead after several conferences that the two bodies decided at a joint executive meeting that a certain amount of publicity was desirable at this stage and that the matter should be placed before members for their approval. The reason leading up to the conferences between the two organisations ■was the whole question of space for exhibition purposes in the present show building in Crawford street. The present building was totally inadequate for combined display of the primary and industrial goods produced in Otago and Southland, and it was evident that they must do more if they were to keep in the forefront and push ahead the interests of the city. The basis of the discussions at the conferences between the A. and P. Society and the Manufacturers’ Association had been whether the A. and P. Society should enlarge the present premises in Crawford street b- erecting one or two storeys at considerable expense and giving the manufacturers the whole of the floor space to themselves. The second basis was that if it were not found convenient to build in Crawford street whether they could find a new site on the foreshore or some ground where provision was already made for show purposes. In November the executive of the Manufacturers’ Association set up a committee to go into the possibility of holding a fairly large exhibition in 1929 or 1930, and the deliberations of that committee led to a plan being put before it by Mr J. Y. Love. No result had accrued during the last two years from the conferences with the A. and P. Society, because that body was faced •■with the problem of staying in Crawford street or removing to some other sphere. Mr Love’s proposals were cordially received by the Manufacturers’ Association, which appointed a committee to confer with the A. and P. Society. At a combined meeting of the two committees recently it was unanimously decided that a recommendation be placed I before the Manufacturers’ Association ' and the A. and P. Society to the effect that the two bodies be empowered to investigate the possibilities of Tahuna Park

for the object in view. The latest proposals embraced a permanent exhibition and show grounds not only for to-day, but for some 50 or 100 years ahead. The scheme was to that started in Sydney and one being launched in Wellington, which was being looked upon as an epoch in that city. It had been realised by both committees that it would not be the best tiling for the A. and P. Society or for Dunedin to enlarge the building in Crawford street. The space was totally inadequate, and some of the largest firms were either unable to get space at all or were unable to make an adequate display, and had had to stay out for that reason. He had been told that the members of the Fire Brigade and of the A. and P. Society looked with very great apprehension on the possibility of fire while a show was being held. The present winter show buildings prevented them from enlarging and progressing, and for that reason the show was not growing. The question of centrality had engaged some attention, and the latest scheme was definitely based on the utilisation of Tahuna Park, where, there were 25 acres of freehold ground vested in the A. and P. Society specifically for show purposes. Some £lO,OOO was collected largely in the city a few years ago to assist the society financially. Mr Love had drawn up a scheme for using Tahuna Park for show grounds, amusements, tea rooms, and so on, so as to attract the people in thousands as was done to a larger extent during ' the Exhibition. The main features were that Tahuna Park was freehold, that 25 acres were available for the objects in view, and that there were large tracts of domain ground surrounding the park which could be secured later on if the scheme grew and developed as Dunedin grew and developed. The area was close to the city and very close to a large population on the Flat. Another very important feature was the tram facilities. There were two tram lines running direct to the park, and the carrying out of the scheme in view would turn what was now more or less of a dead-end line into a prosperous concern for the Tramways Department. Some criticism had been raised because Tahuna Park was on the edge of the city, but the Wellington scheme was 12 or 15 minutes out by tram from the centre of that town. The journey here would not occupy more than 15 or 20 minutes by a fast tram service. Combined shows by the manufacturers and the A. and P. Society in Auckland had resulted in large profits, and the co-operation had been of great benefit to the primary and secondary industries. On account of the success in the north the Manufacturers’ Association and the A. and P. Society in Christchurch had decided to hold a joint exhibition, which was attended by 15,000 people on Saturday last. In Wellington last year 150,000 people attended in one week, so they could see the tremendous possibilities in Dunedin if the right facilities were provided.. He was confident that manj' people did not go to the Winter Show on account of the crush, but if they got the desired building at Tahuna Park the public would go out there and enjoy themselves. Surely the Dunedin people would take advantage of the opportunity of providing greater facilities and laying down a scheme which could be developed as the city grew. He would suggest that a show equid' be held perhaps in the autumn. At the end of a week the show could be removed and the industrial and agricultural part carried on for another week. Not only would there be a section for New Zealand industries, but there was no reason why there should not be a hall for the exhibition of Empire goods only. Provision had also been made for an extension of the buildings on the Lawyer’s Head road. It would be well to cooperate with the motor car sellers, who would no doubt take considerable space. Also, the sports bodies would take a hand in the scheme. He believed the support of the public ■would be secured. The carnivals at St. Clair and St. Hilda attracted the people in a marvellous manner, and the scheme now proposed would, without doubt, win a very large measure of public sympathy and support. The cost of a building at Tahuna was estimated by Mi Love at £30,000. Probably only half of

the projected building would be required in the next 10 years, so that with an expenditure of £15,000, and perhaps £5OOO or £lO,OOO to improve the ground, the scheme could be set on foot. The proposal was one that should be taken up in Dunedin. It was next in importance, if properly developed, to the recent Exhibition. He believed the City Council, the Expansion League, the Chamber of Commerce, the sports bodies, the motor public, and others would co-operate in the scheme with the Agricultural and Pastoral Society and the Manufacturers’ Association. The question of control could be dealt with at a later date Mr Love had been of invaluable assistance to the two committees in laying something concrete before them. It now remained for the committees to carry on the matter, and at the proper time a public meeting would probably be called to consider it.— (Applause.) Mr G. W. Reid (secretary) read a letter from the Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner), who said he had had the privilege of viewing the plans and hearing some details of the scheme; and he believed it was an admirable proposal and deserving of the warm-hearted support of everyone concerned. Mr Reid added that the promoters of the Wellington scheme aimed at securing £46,000. The building was now well on the way, and it was hoped to hold an exhibition on the ground later in the year. Cr J. S. Douglas, Deputy Mayor, said I he had laid some particulars of the scheme before the Tramways Committee, and ne had reason to believe that the committee would give all reasonable facilities for taking the public to the park.—(Applause.) Something might be done on the lines of what was done at the Exhibition. The line to Tahuna would, of course, be used more frequently than was the Exhibition line, and for that reason the promoters of the scheme could be met in every possible way.— (Applause.) Mr G. Finn, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, who was cordially received, said that in the northern city a similar project was in hand betw’een the Agricultural Society and the Manufacturers’ Association. The people in Dunedin were more fortunate than the residents of Auckland, in that they had an ] excellent scheme ready at hand and a site convenient to the city and with room for expension.

Mr E. A. Rosevear (president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce) said the chamber had not had the scheme before it. To his mind, it was a proposal that had a long view’, and he could assure those who were behind it that if the two councils could come to a satisfactory arrangement the Chamber of Commerce would give it every support. It was a scheme that was W'orthy of the city. Mr W. O. M'Kellar, president of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, said that so far the scheme had not been laid before the members of the society. It would be for the members to say whether they would adopt or reject the scheme, which involved moving from the present premises in Crawford street to Tahuna Park The executive of the society was favourable to the scheme, provided it could, be carried out in such a way that the interests of the society would be safeguarded during the operation. The proposal W’as of more importance to the Agricultural and Pastoral Society than to any other body. The society had been so long housed in Crawford street that it had become almost a tradition that the Winter Show should be held there, and any suggestion to remove it would probably be looked on with some alarm from the attendance point of view. He had given the matter a good deal of consideration himself, and it seemed to him there was a chance for the society to co-operate w’ith other associations in a scheme that they ought to do their best to carry through, though it might be somewhat early for the society’s plans. He believed the proposal would receive the support of the society. — (Applause.) Mr R-. W. Hall, Mayor of St. Kilda, said this was a great forward movement in exhibiting the primary and secondary products of the Dominion. Undoubtedly

greater facilities were required in that direction than were now available in the society’s premises in Craw'ford street. At present Tahuna Park was little used, and this was an opportunity to erect on it a substantial building in which shows carnivals, and other gatherings could be held, together with many facilities for sport for the rising generation. He was convinced the people of Dunedin had sufficient confidence in their province to support such a scheme.— (Applause.) Mr B. H. Nees moved —“ That this meeting of members of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association heartily approves the suggested co-operation of*the Otago A. and P. Society for the erection of permanent show and exhibition buildings on Tahuna Park, and authorises its executive to continue negotiations to that end.

Mr W. Easton seconded the motion. On being put to the meeting the motion W’as carried unanimously. 1