The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1907. EXHIBITION AWARDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13265, 20 April 1907, Page 4

The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1907. EXHIBITION AWARDS.

It is very much to be regretted that-)the management of the Exhibition was carried on in such a way as to make it possible , for a singlo individual to discredit the ' whole affair so far as its awards of merit ■■ are concerned. We have very little doubt ; that the Australian exhibitors of wines : and spirits will not be alono in treating the awards with contempt, and after the : revelations that have been made, we cannot blame them for their refusal to have anything more to do with any tests sub- , mitted the' Exhibition authorities. Weeks ,ago protests were made in Australia against the system on which the judging of the exhibits of wine l was being cpn- ■' ducted, and a cablegram on the subject, published at the time in .jill the daily papers in the colony, should have been sufficient to direct the attention of - the Government, and of other responsible 'persons, to the, rotten condition' of affairs which, has since been so fully revealed. L.Nothing, however-, was done, .and the Superintendent of. Awards found the opportunity to perpetuate what the General Manager, in his euphemistic memorandum to the .unfortunate exhibitors, describes as "certain irregularities." which have been enough to invalidate - all the awards made in connection with certain classes of exhibits, in which those interested' are incited to submit specimens of their, goods j-'to.'a fresh test. As we have said, we are not surprised that tha Australian representatives have- declined to have anything more to do with an Exhibition in which such a farcical proceeding s was~ possible. These people have been to a lot of,trouble and expense, the only return for which was the prospect .of a good advertisement and a permanent testimonial to the worth of their wares. , After what has happened, they feel that any award made under the proposed system of rejudging would 'be worthless. ■> One Commissioner, a little more plain-spoken than the others, explains his refusal to participate iii the General Manager's -offer by his fear that an Exhibition medal- would now be regarded in Australia simply as prima facie evidence .of " palm grease." The unfortunate thing is that this impression is not likely to stop at the awards made in respect to wines and, spirits.; Every class will be brought under suspicion, and the Exhibition, so far from redounding to' the credit of the colony, will'probably cover N.ew Zealand with a considerable; amount of obloquy. It is too late now to think of undoing the mischief, but at least we hope, that a searching enquiry will be instituted into the system of management under which such a regrettable, result.- has come about.