WELLINGTON WINTER SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 13

WELLINGTON WINTER SHOW.

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY. ADDRESS BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL. WELLINGTON, September 19. The opening ceremony of the Wellington Winter Show was performed to-day by the Governor-General . (Sir Charles Fergusson), in the presence of a large attendance of the public. The chairman of the Wellington Winter Show Association (Mr R. H. Nimino) presided. The Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates), her Excellency (Lady Alice Fergusson), Mrs Coates, the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr I). M'Leod), the Mayor (Mr G. A. Troup), the president of the Manufacturers’ Association (Mr F. Campbell), and the Minister of Agriculture (Mr O. J. Hawken), were also present. Mr Nimmo extended a welcome on behalf of the Show Association. Mr F. Campbell (Manufacturers’ Association) congratulated the Show Association on its building. He trusted the public would purchase more New Zea-land-made goods than in the past. If New Zealand were to become a great country the manufacturing industries would have to be developed. His Excellency said he had lately joined the Society of Abridged Oratory, of which _he was the first patron. The society would include the Prime Minister, the Mayor and councillors.— (Laughter.) There would also-be a ladies’ branch, of which Lady Alice Fergusson would be the first patroness. The society would also include legislators and members of the legal fraternity. He referred to the progress industry had made in the past 54 years. At the 1885 Exhibition it was prophesied that wool would be exported only in an unmanufactured form. He stressed the value of the exhibition from an educative point of view in bringing manufacturers together. Town and country were brought together and an important link was forged. He congratulated most heartily those who had had the foresight to envisageAhe scheme, those who had had the courage to embark on it, and those who had had the industry to carry it through. The exhibition would become a great industrial centre.

Mr Nimmo, on behalf of the executive of the Show Association, presented Mr G. Mitchell (secretary of the association) with a clock as a tribute to Mr Mitchell's work. Mr Nimmo also paid tributes to the work of Mi’ John Myers and of Sir John Luke, M.P. Mr Mitchell, he said, was responsible for the vision in connection with the work. Mr Mitchell said the surprise was a pleasurable one. The Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates), in the course of a speech, said that for the eight months’ ended August 31 the exports totalled £43,076,394 compared with £35,782,695 for the corresponding period last year, and the imports totalled £28,893,753 compared with £29,105,373. The figures shower a visible balance of trade for the period of £14,182,641, compared with £6.677,322, an improvement of £7,505,319. Mr Coates said that the unemployment ‘ position was improving generally and the prospects were bright.There was every reason to be optimistic in regard to the future. “May 7 I say that the outlook is even better than the figures I quote,” said Mr Coates. “It all points to a solid, definite, and immediate improvement in our country.” Mr Coates, proceeded to quote figures showing the advance in the number of people engaged in industries, and the added va'ue of our products and thevalue of buildings and land. Although they heard a lot against secondary industries there had been an increased output. Everyone should support our secondary industries and such shows did good both in town and country, enabling both to see each other’s work.