THE EDITOB, AUCKLAND OBSERVES.

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 953, 3 April 1897, Page 3

THE EDITOB, AUCKLAND OBSERVES.

Sib,— ln your widely-circulated paper of 20th February appears an article in reference to Auckland holding an Industrial Exhibition. It has often been to me when in Auckland seeing the many local industries that are carried on there, cause for wonder why your people did not try to bring their industries more prominently before the public by means of an Exhibition. Should you determine to have one, a few hints gained from practical experience may be of -advantage. In the first place, if you decide to hold an Exhibition, will it be an intercolonial one like the Dunedin

Exhibition, or purely industrial like those quite recently held at Christchurch and Wellington respectively ? If the former, I would strongly advise you to let the Government ran it, or get them to give a grant of £8,000 or £10,000, as in the case of Dunedin ; otherwise, financially, it would not be likely to be a success. Moreover, you have to consider the amount of stock that would be lost, and, after the Exhibition, thrown on the market to the detriment of the local manufacturers and tradesmen. II an Industrial Exhibition is held, there is every reason to think that, run on similar lines to those held in Christchurch and Wellington, it -would prove a thorough success. Given the proper time of the year, the lovely climate and delightful suburbs of Auckland would attract an enormous number of visitors. The financial success would depend greatly on the amount of local support in various ways, such as music. In Chtistchurch, as lam informed, their musical entertainments only cost them' £5 ; ours cost us between £500 and £600. We had to pay, and they got theirs for nothing. Their committee did all the work ; ours being so much larger, we paid for all attendants. You will note that in the case of both these successful Exhibitions, they were run under the auspices of the Industrial Association of the respective towns. This,. I think, is the first step. Get an Industrial Association, and then you will have men to take charge who know what they are about. It may not be known to you that last session the combined Associations of Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington got a most important amendment made in the Bating Act, exempting machinery from rating. To those who have machinery of any sort, this was of the greatest importance. I can only say, in conclusion, that the Wellington Industrial Association will be glad to help^ou in any way, and, I am sure, Christchurch will do the same. — I am, etc., Samuel Brown, President Wellington Industrial Association.