AUCKLAND EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14843, 8 December 1913, Page 3

AUCKLAND EXHIBITION.

THE MAYOR'S IMPRESSIONS. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland), who roterned from the North on Saturday morning after attending the opening of the Auckland Exhibition, said that he had spent an exceptionally enjoyable time in the northern city, where he found much to interest him. The Exhibition was considerably, larger than he expected- to find it. There were a, few • courts which were not cjuit© complete, but ho had been astonished to find matters as forward as they were in view of the trying circumstances which marked the period just prior to the opening of the Exhibition. Speaking generally, Mr Holland said that the Exhibition from the point of view of local industries was disappointing, as the bulk of the exhibits were imports from England and America. As _to the side snowe "Wonderland" certainly exceeded the "Wonderland" at the 1906-7 International Exhibition at Chfistchurch, in the variety and the permanency of the structures. "The isnibition," said Mr Hollan 3, "is exceedingly good from a Erovincial standpoint. One thing that as made it so successful is the solidarity of the local bodies and the kindly feelings existing between them. I was very forcibly impressed with the optimism of the Auckland people. They have convinced themselves that they are the people who can 'do' things, and have arrived at a point which shows .that what they undertake will be a success. Canterbury is not represented, and, I think the province t has mado a mistake. South Canterbury is largely responsible for this, as the people there determined to have a court of their own, but financial difficulties prevented this being carried out, and efforts to get North and South Canterbury to join in one exhibit were unsuccessful. I did not see any individual exhibits by Canterbury firms, and if there are any they are not conspicuous. I think we have lost a valuable opportunity to advertise Canterbury especially as Auckland is a very large customer of our products.".