LETTER TO THE PREMIER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5283, 14 June 1895, Page 4

LETTER TO THE PREMIER.

The following letter has been sent to the Premier by the President o£ the Industrial Association: — / . . "Sib,— A doputation from the Canterbury Industrial Association had the honour to wait npon you when in Christchurch to ask the Government to assist the proposed industrial exhibition, by giving na a grant in aid to the extent of £1000. You were Rood enough to expruas your personal sympathy with the objects of the exhibition, and - requested us to lay before you a formal statement of the views and intentions of the Association. I have now the honour, by request of our Association, to do so. It is proposed to bold an exhibition on an exten.afee scale at the end of August. The exhibition will be open to all parts of New Zealand. It will consist exclusively of- the manufactures, arts and natural produota of the colony. Exhibition committees have been formed from amongst the leading tradesmen of the city, and a very large measure of anpport is already assured from intending exhibitors. We have no paid officials ; everything is being oatried on by volunv r tary effort. The question of buildings is the ;;:, most pressing one on our funds. And it is ■y .proposed to utilise the present drillahed i'^mi fa «wt further buildings in the

grounds. The principal object of the exhibition ia to bring prominently before the public the actual condition of the manufactures as they exiat to-day. It is some years since an exhibition on this scale was held here, and in the meantime great strides have been made. Exhibitions of our local productß have always awakened the greatest intereat on the part of the public, thousands being quite unaware ot the strides made in our industries, and _ this interest has invariably Bhown itself by increased .inquiry, and for 1 local goods. It is proposed to use the Bmall funds at present held by th 6 Industrial Association as a nucleus for the Exhibition Fund, and to supplement this by public guarantee and subscriptions, but it ' is estimated that from these sources we 1 shall not be able to do justice to the venture. Hence our appeal to you for financial assistance. When the exhibition is opened we shall aßk the Government lo run excursion trainß from many { partß, and this should produce such a substantial increase in the revenue of the railways as will more than recoup the amount we ask as a Rrant in aid. I take I the liberty of reminding you that I many thousands were Bpent by previous Governments on exhibitions, both in Wellington and Dunedin, and x understand your Government was willing to place a sum on the Estimates for an exhibition in Auckland, which was not taken up. I respectfully submit that small sumß, such as we ask for, spent in the various centres, will do more real good than the expenditure of a large outlay' in any one place. If yon can assist us with this deserving project you will give a tremendous spurt to our industries j you will bring revenue to the railways and will help us to carry on the growing feeling of returning prosperity ; and nothing, I submit, will ' cause thia prosperity to be so lasting and so.widespread as the substantial growth of our local industries. I am, &0., H. B. Kibk President."