SOUTHLAND COURT AT EXHIBITION

Southland Times, Issue 23444, 26 February 1938, Page 7

SOUTHLAND COURT AT EXHIBITION

SUPPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCIL I It is almost certain that the Southland County Council will support the proposal to provide' a Southland court at the New Zealand centennial exhibition. Councillors at yesterday’s meeting agreed that Southland should be properly represented at the exhibition, but a decision on the financial assistance to be given was deferred until the Southland committee had completed arrangements to organize the court. The chairman (Cr A. S. McNaught) said that he had attended the meeting called by the Mayor of Invercargill (Mr John Miller) and learned that if a Southland court of 3000 feet of floor space was taken up it would cost Southland £5250. , T , “It sounds a lot of money, but I think it is a matter entitled to our support,” he said. “We should take it up and give a donation. I do not think £5OOO is too much for Southland to find. There is little doubt that the exhibition will be a big success, and it is Southland’s duty to be represented along with other provinces.” Cr G. W. Whittingham: Has there been any allocation of local bodies? What are we expected to contribute? “That has not been gone into,” said the chairman. “I think the committee should allocate the amount each local body is expected to contribute,” Cr Whittingham added. The county clerk (Mr H. C. Gimblett) said that it was said at the meeting that about 2/- a head would cover the whole of the population in the Southland district. Cr Whittingham said he did not think the amount a head came into the question. It was a question of what could the smaller local bodies, such as town boards find. Would the smaller town boards be agreeable to finding 2/- a head, he asked. “I think the various local bodies should be approached and an allocation worked out," he added. “I think the bigger firms of the city and district should be canvassed,” said the chairman. Cr Whittingham: Yes, but they will be buying space as well for their individual exhibits. Cr G. Wraytt: I think it will cost us about £lOOO. Cr Whittingham: We will be lucky if we get out with £lOOO. The chairman said that the matter of a donation from the county could be held over until the committee was ready to go on with its organizing. The committee was looking for a secretary first, and then would go on with its canvassing, he added. It was agreed to hold the matter over.