CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19679, 11 July 1938, Page 13

CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION

COST OF H.B. COURT WAIUOA DISCUSSION WILL PROVIDE ITS SHARE (Special !o tin! IIi’l'lilil.) WAIROA, this day. Reporting on a meeting held in Napier recently in connection with the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition which he, together with Mr. B. G. ,Signal!, county clerk, and Mr. Jf. O’Loughlin town clerk, attended, the Mayor. Mr. H. L> Barker, stated ;tt a meeting on Friday evening of the Wairoa Borough Council that the estimated cost of the Hawke’s Bay court at the exhibition would be £4OOO, with an additional £4OO in connection with the historical portion. Taken on a population and valuation basis, the cost of contribution of the Wairoa council for representation

at the court would be £IOO and approximately 10 per cent on the historical portion. The Mayor was of opinion that Wairoa should be represented. it was of particular interest to Wairoa and the history Of the district would be obtainable at the court. Mr. Barker stated that he had assured the centennial committee that the Borough Council would back it up and the Wairoa County chairman also had assured him that local bodies in Wairoa would give every assistance towards the Hawke’s Bay court. “The eburt will cover an area of 2000 square feel,” said the Mayor, “and it would cost this council roughly about £4O a year lor three years.” Opposition Voiced Cr. L. E. Galbraith said that it was a lot of money for Wairoa to pay, and for them to get the ratepayers to contribute did not seem right. He had thought it would entail only a few pounds. The majority of the Wairoa people would not see it. “You have seen in the papers the estimated cost of the Centennial Exhibition, and the money cannot come from nowhere,” stated the Mayor. Cr. M. .1. GemmeU said that the matter should not be looked at in the light of how many were going to see it, but it should be regarded as a district matter. The Mayor mentioned that any profits would go first to repay the capital, then the profits from the exhibition would go to charity. The matter should be looked at from a national point of view. The Government realised that the thing must be financed out of the national purse of New Zealand. It was only a contribution from local bodies for the exhibition. Mr. Barker moved that the Wairoa Borough Council undertake to provide its proportion to the Hawke’s Bay court. Cr. Gemmell seconded the motion. “I think it is a matter to put before the public,” said Cr. .1. O. Scott. The Mayor: Well, we are the public. The motion was carried.