AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144050, 20 March 1913, Page 4

AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

THE PROPOSED TARANAKI COURT:

At the Stratford County Council mooting on Wednesday there was some discussion with reference to the proposal to hare a Taranaki court, at.the Auckland Exhibition. A copy of the circular letter issued by Mr. J. 15. Richards with reference to the proposal that the province should he represented at the Auckland Exhibition by a provincial court was received. The letter has already been published. The estimated cost of the proposed court is £550, and the'share of the Strut fold County Council is sot down at £7O. ' '

Messrs, W. R. Kirkwood (Mayor of Stratford) and Mr. Richards waited on the council in connection with tho proposal. and appealed for its sympathy in the movement, which, they contended, would do much to advertise the province, to the benefit of the man on the land.

Councillor Smith, whilst agreeing that advertising in this way would be a good thing for the province, took- exception to the suggested ahiounts to be contributed bv the various local bodies, which, ho said, did not appear to be a fair division, taking into consideration the population of the various districts. Further, he did not think the right people had been approached. It was, in Ins opinion, a matter for the merchants and manufacturers to take up rather than the" local authorities. Mr. Richards said the suggested contributions bad been arrived at on the capital value of the respective local authorities, and he did not see that a more equitable basis could have been taken. ' ‘ ■ Councillors Mnrfoll, - A\ niter, ivnd .Christofcll were of the opinion that the question was one which should be taken up by the business people rather than the- local authorities. Councillor Young thought'there would bo considerable dissatisfaction if the council voted money to an exhibition.in wldeh.it was -possible many of the,ratepayers" did not feel they were interested. Eventually Councillor Anderson moved that the council approved of the proposal to have a Taranaki court at the exhibition, but thought that tho manu-' factiirers "should contribute the bulk of. the cost. There was no seconder to this motion. Councillor Young moved that the matter he held over for a month, but later, at the suggestion of Councillor Marfell, amended his motion to ■ rend that the matter be held over for a month, as the council was not at nresent convinced that the ratepayers, who were chiefly the primary producers, were likely to be much benefited thereby. Councillor • Christofcll seconded and the motion was carried. Councillor Smith proposed as an, amendment that the council approve of the proposal provided a more comprehensive scheme is put before them, but found no seconder.