EXHIBITION AT AUCKLAND

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 61, 17 March 1913, Page 3

EXHIBITION AT AUCKLAND

A TARANAKI COURT. The following circular has been forwarded by Mr J. B. Richards, secretary pro tem, of the meeting recently held in Stratford in connection wit) the proposal to secure a Taranaki Court at the Auckland Exhibition, tc the various local bodies in Taranaki Stratford, 14th March, 1913. Dear Sirs, —You are probably a wan of the proposal that the Province o' Taranaki should be represented at th Auckland Exhibition by a Provincia Court. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.

Mr Holmes, Secretary to the Exhi bition, has had two conferences wit! the Council of the Taranaki Chambe of Commerce, and a space of 1200 fee has been tentatively applied for, bid this application for space is subject t< the proposal receiving the approval and support of responsible bodie; throughout the Province. As a further step, a meeting was held in Strat ford on March 4, to which were invit od representatives from all the Loca Bodies in Taranaki.

The Stratford mooting was attend cd by. Messrs F. S. Johns, W. Peri (Now‘Plymouth), J. Brown (Taranak County Council), Gibbs (Inglewood) T. B. Crump, Geo, Buckeridge (El tham), E. Dixon (Hawera), and W B. Kirkwood, S. H. James, R. Mast ers, W. H. H. Young, J. B. Richard (Stratford). The meeting unanimous ly approved of the proposal to pro mote a Taranaki Provincial Court a the Exhibition, and speakers wer most emphatic in expressing the opir ion that it should be carried out i a manner which woull be. creditable t our Province. Those present form ed themselves into a Committee fo the purpose of promoting the pro posal, and they earnestly urge upo members of local bodies, and the put lie generally, the positive necessity o, extending a hearty support to in scheme, to the end that the desirabl measure of success may be attained A sub-committee was appointed fo bodies a more or less definite scheme to seek their support, and to repori to a future meeting. The benefit;, likely to accrue to Taranaki from t full representation at the Aucklam Exhibition will readily present them selves to you, for it is generally ad mitted that trade and commerce ar greatly promoted by industrial ex hibitions. The excellence of our bui ter, cheese, wool, meat, hides, an produce generally,' would be promi nently placed before visitors to th ( Exhibition, and these visitors wouh doubtless include many business mei from overseas Seeking direct commu ideation with the sources of supplj The trade of Taranaki with Aucklam itself is well worth careful attentioi and is likely to increase copsiderabl. with the opening of the railway coi nection. Judicious advertising is um versally admitted to bo a necessai, phase of successful business. A ver; slight improvement in the demand fo our produce would amply repay th cost of the proposed Court. On tie I other hand, it is considered inadvisabl jto allow our Province to drop ou ! whore others will bo making such ; i good display close at hand, j It is apparent that what benefit'

■arise from a Taranaki Court wil affect tiro whole province, particularly the primary producer, the ma on the land, and it is therefore hopec that all local bodies will contribut to the cost.

| Local bodies hhvo power to mak( “unauthorised” expenditure on sued ■ an object up to a certain proportion ■ of their revenue, but it is understoot the Government will be asked to intro 1 duco a Hill during next session givinj ] specific power to local bodies to de j vote a. certain portion of their fund to this particular object. Mann facturers and business firms through out Taranaki will be canvassed to ex bibit in our Court, and will, of course pay for the space they require, and i sum of £2OO may bo reasonably ex pected from them.

The Committee, however, feels tha a sum of about £SOO must be sure I \ available to ensure the success of th

undertaking, and the most equitable method they can devise to raise this amount is to suggest that local bodies contribute a sum equal to £35 in the million pounds of capital value' of rateable properties in their respective districts.

I have prepared a table, worked out to the nearest £5, showing the suggested contributions from each local body, and append same for your information. Counties Suggested Contribution.

MANAGEMENT.

As the scheme develops, there will probably be appointed by contributing bodies a Committee of Management, who will have full control, but, of course, the whole question ol management must finally rest in the hands of representatives of contributing bodies. The present suh-coramit-tee is quite willing to do all that is required of it, but they have no wish to assume any duty or control which have not been properly assigned to them.

Will you kindly place tins proposal before* your Council, and after consideration by them advise me at your earliest convenience, if they approve of same.

Thanking you in anticipation,— Yours faithfully, J. B. RICHARDS, Secretary, pro. tern.

£ s. d. Clifton ... ... 25 0 0 Taranaki ... 70 0 0 Haw ora ... ... 70 0 0 Waimate West ... 40 0 0 Eltham ... ... 50 0 0 Egmont ... ... 50 0 0 Stratford ... 70 0 0 W hangamomon a ... 15 0 0 Pa tea ... 70 0 0 Boroughs. Waitara ... ... 5 0 0 New Plymouth ... 40 0 0 Inglewood ... 5 0 0 Stratford .... 10 0 0 Hawera ... ... 15 0 0 Eltham ... ... 10 0 0 Patea ... 5 0 0 £550 0 0