EXHIBITION PROJECT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 232, 1 October 1928, Page 8

EXHIBITION PROJECT.

SUGGESTED FOR AUCKLAND.

PLANNED FOR 1931.

SITE IX HOBSON BAY PROPOSED.

At a meeting of the Auckland Industrial Association to-day a scheme to hold an exhibition in Auckland three years hence was proposed by Mr. J. S. I 1 letcher. In introducing the matter, Air. Metcher said that some little time ago it was publicly announced that the Federal Government of Australia had decided to abandon the proposed Sydney Exhibition. Cabled inquiry clicited a reply from the Premier of New South Wales to the effect that the big Sydney Exhibition for 1931 was definitely off. He suggested that Australia's abandonment of this big show was Auckland's opportunity. It was common knowledge that Auckland lacked facilities for holding exhibitions. For example, recently, the Winter Show was held in a wharf shed. Accommodation was limited, and facilities generally were lacking for a real exhibition. It was interesting to compare Toronto, which has enormous permanent buildings I<t exhibition purposes, and where great annual fairs are held, attracting visitors from all over the world. Recently it was reported in the Press that Dunedin proposed erecting permanent exhibition buildings to the value of £50,000. So impressed were the Dunedin people with the results of their big venture of 1925, that they had come to the conclusion that permanent exhibition buildings would be an asset to their city.

A Spirit of Optimism. There was to-day in Auckland a great need for recreation grounds. As a result of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition a wonderful playing area of 65 acres had been added to the Dunedin City Sports Grounds. Here in Auckland there was on the foreshore in Hobson Bay a very large area, of at least a hundred acres, which would lend itself admirably for this purpose. The residents in that vicinity had clearly stated that they will not tolerate the establishment of railway shunting yards at their front door, and various proposals had been made as to how this area could be developed. He suggested that if permanent exhibition buildings were designed to harmonise with the nature of the locality, and huge playing fields made around them, a wonderful asset to the city would be created. In addition an art gallery, which would be a permanent attraction to every exhibition, could be erected. The locality was ideal for the purpose. It would be very near the new station and suitable access could easily be provided from the city. In connection with the suggestion to have the art gallery there a parallel can be drawn from the building of the art gallery in Glasgow, in Kelvin Grove Park, where several exhibitions have been held. Out of a period of depression a big venture like this would give rise to a new spirit of optimism. There was a concensus of opinion as to Auckland's future greatness. An exhibition such as the one proposed would give an impetus to a great forward move. As distinctive from the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, the scope could be increased to include the Pacific Nations. The rapid development in the Pacific in recent years would give an impetus to such a proposal. The recent trade treaty with Japan might open up big outlets for some products, and such a scheme might well be utilised to foster friendly relations between the great Pacific Nations.

Co-operation Needed. The New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition was financed by the floating of a company for £100,000. The City Council, Harbour Board, and other local bodies and prominent business men were approached, to take shares in this venture. It was clearly understood that no profits would be made by the shareholders, because if the exhibition had been successful in that respect, these were not to be used in the paying of dividends. The Dunedin Exhibition Company paid back 15/ in the £, which means that Dunedin and Otago got a wonderful advertisement for £23,000, and, as already stated, a wonderful park has been added to the city. Such a scheme would require co-opera-tion between the Auckland City Council, the Harbour Board, and the citizens of Auckland. Again Auckland's bigger population should tend to make the I scheme more profitable. It was a fact that the present organisations responjsible for the Winter Show had large | sums of money available for exhibition buildings. It was known, too, that the Art Society has money to invest in an* Art Gallery. If the Harbour Board were to fill in or reclaim the Hobson Bay area, hand it over to the City Council at a peppercorn rental to utilise as playing areas, as was done by the Otago Harbour Board and the Dunedin City Council, any great difficulty would be removed. Support would be forthcoming from every sports organisation in the city, and we feel sure that the business people would realise the enormous advantage that would accrue from such a venture. One objection that might be raised was that it was too soon after the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, but the plan merely substituted Auckland as a venue for the exhibition in place of Sydney, where the exhibition was to take place in 1931. A big exhibition was to be held in Antwerp in 1930, from which doubtless many exhibits could be secured. The scheme would give an enormous amount of employment for skilled and unskilled labour alike, in the reclaiming of the area, and in the erecting and fitting of the exhibition buildings. Should, these suggestions appeal to the community generally, and to your association particularly, and it was assumed after having interviewed several prominent men in the city that the idea was a good one, he suggested that the Mayor should call a meeting of those interested, as was done by the Mayor in Dunedin, when the Dunedin Exhibition project was launched. Mr. Fletcher stated that the area between the sewer pipeline and the foreshore was over 80 acres, and this, with the tidal area on the other side of Shore Road, will prove an ample area for the proposed Exhibition. The cost of reclamation would not be excessive.