The Exhibition.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 6, 2 April 1906, Page 131

The Exhibition.

New Zealand is to have an International Exhibition this year. The event calls for greater enthusiasm and unanimity on the part of New Zealanders than were ever before required in the history of the colony. Yet from many directions come the cries of local firms in denunciation of the expense and unprofitableness that exhibiting is to lead them into ; and the passive resister, more's the pity, is just as much in evidence as his unequivocal brother. These things, it must be confessed, are scarcely in accord with the progressive spirit that has hitherto kept New Zealand to the fore, but, rather, they are indicative of an insularity which should be swept clean off the board when a question of national importance presents itself for serious consideration. We understand that the cost of preparing a suitable exhibit has, in many instances been put down at large sums varying from to These are big figures for New Zealand ; yet they apply only m so far as prominent manufacturers or importers are concerned. The " small " man, on the other hand, can always conduct a paying show for less than as witness the itinerant " cheap lack " and those of his kind. But a precedent can not be found to support the reputable firms who argue that an exhibition should be regarded as a direct money-making medium ; therefore we are unable to hold out much financial hope for those who would enter the list with such an object in view. Money spent on an exhibition buys labour and material, and, consequently, it returns by various

channels to the original source in the same proportion as the commodity exhibited may be required for home consumption — the difference in every case having to be debited to advertising account. In summing up the situation it must be recorded that the New Zealand International Exhibition is destined to fill the dual position that other and greater exhibitions have m the past, viz. • educational factor for the rising generation, and emporium for local business people, or for those having business interests in the colony ; and it follows that the greater the enthusiasm displayed the bigger will be the resultant benefit. Success under the present circumstances promises to be relative ; nevertheless, let all praise be given the enterprising firms of New Zealand for their vigorous endorsement of the Exhibition at a time when its fruition seemed impossible. These people are in themselves fortun ately capable of carrying it to a satisfactory issue, in spite of all opposition.