A GREAT SUCCESS

Southland Times, Issue 19900, 19 June 1926, Page 10

A GREAT SUCCESS

TWO MILLION VISITORS. TO WELLINGTON EXHIBITION COURT. The following report upon the work of the Wellington Combined Court at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition has been issued by the Wellipgton Exhibition Committee:— The Wellington Court was designed to give a distinctive air, to place the main and greater things prominently and interestingly before the public. The psychological effect of the display was borne out by the fact that no matter at what time of the day or night one made an inspection of the courts to ascertain the proportion of attendance it was always three to one in favour of the Wellington Combined Court. It is estimated that over 2,000,000 people passed through the court, and 50,000 of these visitors signed the visitors’ books. This fact in itself signifies a wonderful success, but coupled with the following striking facts which those visitors now realise, that success was made even greater— That the Wellington Harbour is one of the finest in the world, and that to-day (after only 86 years since the first immigrants arrived) the imports and exports exceed £30,000,000, nearly onethird of the total of New Zealand. That Wellington, the Capital City, is the hub of New Zealand, and wonderfully beautiful, besides her industrial progress being phenomenal. That the Wellington Province as a whole carries over 5,000,000 sheep producing over 46,000,0001bs of wool in one season, and carries over 240,000 dairy cows, and produces over £3,500,000 dairy produce in one year. These facts, placed before the people in | a striking and attractive form, both statisI tically and in the actual product, beautii fully housed in a magnificent court, repre--1 sentative and historical, must have a lasting effect. i The following is an extract from a I letter received from Mr Spence, the secreI tary of the Exhibition, commenting on the ; Wellington Court—“l would like to take I this opportunity of saying how much your : court, particularly its style of architecture • and layout, were admired by the many thousands of our visitors. These points were commented upon by nearly everyone, whether from New Zealand or overseas, who discussed the merits of the various provincial courts with me. Personally, these points have always appealed to me most ■ strongly, and if my poor opinion is worth j anything I would like to congratulate your ' committee upon its court and its layout/ i and I am more convinced than ever that 1 it would have been a thousand pities to I have spoiled it with any secondary exhibits as there was not sufficient room for one thing, and they would have been quite out of their proper atmosphere for another.” REACHING THE PUBLIC BY RADIO. ' The Wellington Court had the unique I privilege of being the only court in the Exhibition with a microphone installed, thereby being able to broadcast by radio i throughout New Zealand, Australia, and as far as the Panama. Through the untiring efforts of our Commissioner, Captain McDonald, concerts were organised every Friday. These concerts not only delighted thousands of radio listeners in New Zealand and Australia, and the hundreds who flocked to the court, but were heard by | the American fleet in the Pacific, who sent back a radio message that they would be listening for the Wellington Court concert the following Friday. Many other messages and telegrams were also received. This magnificent form of publicity has boosted Wellington far beyond the shores of New Zealand, and must have a far-reaching effect. Another important factor in our scheme of publicity was the distribution of literature. Oevr 100,000 booklets were dis- • tributed to visitors passing through the I Wellington Court. A great many people came to the Exhibition for educational purposes, and the significant fact that we have at least 100,000 readers of the progress, possibilities, and doings of our province is in itself a great advertisement. Besides this i we have received over 2000 inches of Press ! publicity through the Dunedin Press, which incidentally must be complimented for the great work it has done, not only to Dunedin, but to the other provinces represented. The remarkable manner in which the Press | worked up enthusiasm was in a large ■ measure responsible for the great success of the whole Exhibition. THE LATER RESULTS. Now that the Exhibition is over and the doors closed, do the education, advancement, and traditions displayed and inculI cated end there? Emphatically No. More 1 so was this brought home by the many : overseas and representative visitors who visited the court. All these things may be ' forgotten for the moment, but are subcon- ■ scious, propelling us forward and giving us further ideas for further advancement which stands as a monument to the great stoics who were responsible for the foundation of our rapid progress. We still obtain further publicity for Wellington through the beautiful diorama of the Wellington Harbour and city being chosen for the New Zealand section in the Canadian National Exhibition, to be held at Toronto where approximately 7,000,000 people will visit that Exhibition. If the Wellington Court had not been established this great additional publicity would never have been obtained. Not only has the Wellington diorama been chosen, but the Wairarapa, Manawatu< and Rangitikei, and part of the Hawke’s Bay dioramas are also being sent. The court was in charge of Captain M. B. McDonald, M.C., who carried through the whole undertaking to the entire satisfaction of the committee. This is the culmination of a great achieve- ’ ment, and a wonderful success for the advancement and possibilities of our city and province.