FINE EXHIBITION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 425, 17 November 1930, Page 7

FINE EXHIBITION

DUNEDIN MANUFACTURERS FUNDS FOR CANCER CAMPAIGN. [Per Press Association.] DUN EDr* Nov. 15. The Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association has inaugurated a carnival and exhibition in the spacious Drill Hall at Kensington and this afternoon, in the presence of a large attendance it was opened b/ Hon. P. A. de ]a Perrello. Minister of Industries and Commerce. Addresses wore given by Sir Louis Barnett (president of the executive committee). Mr James Hogg ’(chairman c.f the committee) and the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr R. S. Black).

About 8000 square feev of space are occupied by stalls and practically every manufacturer in Dunedin is represented. Some 400 are workers, being enlisted to participate. There arc a number of working exhibits, such as confectionery making, match making, etc., and every stall displays article* of local manufacture and of interest and use to the general public. For pleasure seekers there arc heaps of fun and al] the city bands arc assisting. The large hall with its flags, festooncry and blaze of light and colour, is reminiscent of a court in the Logan Park Exhibition of 1925. The principal object of the carnival is to raise funds to augment those already in hand through the efforts of the New Zealand cancer campaign committee. Mr de la Pcrrcllc, in the course of his speech, referred in terms ®f praise to the decision of the Manufacturers’ Association to join with the medical profession in arresting, at any rate to some extent, the dread disease of cancer. No fewer than 1467 persons died in New Zealand last year of cancer, and during the last 10 years cancer had caused the deaths of 12.212 persons in New Zealand. In the light of these figures it would be seen how valuable was the effort on the part of the manufacturers’ Assocation to raise funds to fight the disease. “Our hope for the arrest of cancer,” he said, “must be based on two essentials: (1) Early recognition of the disease and its early treatment; (2) immediate provision of sufficient funds to enable research work to be conducted and to ensure ample supplies of radium and X-ray equipment for the successful treatment of the disease.”

Mr de la Perrelle went on to say that although New Zealand was essentially a primary producing country, its manufacturing’industries were by no means insignificant. They were steadily increasing and in 1928-29 gave employment to 33,680 people, who received £17,000,000 in wages. The value of the raw materials used was £60,000,000, while £33,000,000 was the value added by the process of manufacture, and the total value of the output was £93,000,000. Of the 83,680 persons engaged in the manufacturing industries, 63 per cent., or 53,050 persons, were engaged in real manufacture —that wat manufacture not closely associated with the great primary industries, such as meat freezing, sawmilling, etc. While he believed that for many years the prosperity and development of New Zealand would be inseparably wrapped up with the farming industries, nt th.same time it was to the manufacturing industries that they must look in a great degree for the provision or employment for a large number of young people leaving school. The representative nature of the exhibits in the carnival would give visitors an idea of the extensive variety and excellent quality of the goods produce in New Zealand. Indeed, he had i.o doubt that many would feel surprised upon realising what a large number of commodities were actuary made in New Zealand. Sir Louis Barnett said the action ot the Otago manufacturers in coming to the aid of the cancer research committee at so timely a season, and promoting a wonderful exhibition for the benefit of the campaign, filled the committee with gratitude and appreciation. , . Mr James Legg said he need not stress the importance to the Dominion of educating the young people to the merits of the case for supporting industrial development during a period of intensified unemployment and disIn the evening the public thronged the building and the scene presented was one of .splendour, gaiety and Hie.