THE EXHIBITION. ENCOURAGING REPORTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 86, 12 April 1911, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION. ENCOURAGING REPORTS.

SUCCESS ASSURED. Encouraging reports relating to the progress which lias been made by the Industrial Association with the arrangements for the coming Exhibition were made at a meeting held last ovening. The president, .Mr. T. Uallinger, presided. Since the former meeting a considerable amount of routine work has been done by the lespective sub-committees, the chairman stated. Tha number of applications for space at the Exhibition had been most satisfactory, indeed, it had been necessary to alter the plan considerably, and finally to have a new plan drawn. The Building and SpaceCommittee found it necessary to reduce the dimensions of tho concert hall by the amount of space between one row of pillars. The railway line running along on© side of the "J" building, on which it was intended to exhibit a New Zealand-built locomotive and a railway car, and possibly the body of a locally-built tram car, had been marked off for flooring over, so as to increaco the letting space. Every available foot of letting space on the ground floors of tho two buildings had been allotted, and some exhibitors would be accommodated in the galleries. The amount pi floor space let was 19,200 square feet, , and, including frontage rates, amounts in cash to £670 and selling rights to £200, a total of £870. . Gnllery space is not taken into account yet. It would be a surprise to many to know that the Exhibition would be a larger one than the Exhibition which was held on the Town Hall site in 1895-7. It has been decided to charge £10 for selling rights at the Exhibition, this charge to i-efer to those who desiro to sell smoll goods and articles. It had previously been reported that the Wellington. Ti.-u'-bour Board earned a proportion of its own insurance, and by the terms of the lease we had to insure to the full insurable amount. Tho fire- underwriters met to consider what rate would be struck for the Exhibition buildinoß and contents, and members of the respective committees had expressed surprise that so high n, rale had bern struck. The association wiU have to pay an additional 5s per cent, on the 9 amount of the insurance already oaid by the Harbour Board (£22,000' at 5s per cent.) £55 10s. oncl the association's own portion (£20,800 al 6s to 8s per cent ) £69 6s Bd. a total of £124 16s Bd. The rate for insurance on exhibits classed as contents wa-s fixed at 10s per ■cent, for the Exhibition period, up to three months, in other words 40s per cent, per t'nnum, in what is considered a fireproof building. , The chairman also reported that arrangements had been made with theFire Brigade superintendent for adequate fire protection. The interior oi' the building was well sixpplied with hose fonnected with the city water supply. Endeavours to arrange with a company to iastal a lift (the- only consideration being the advertisement for the company) had not resulted satisfactorily. The Department of Agriculture had been asked to pay £100 for space it required for it? exhibit, but the Minister had declined to pay anything at all. After the applications for spac^ had been dealt with space was offered at half-price to the department, but no reply to the association's letter had been received. Mr. Partridge reported that the school-

masters had decided that it would not be advisable to have schools in competition with each other, so far as th€ exhibition of pupils' work was- concerned. A selection of work and a genera) exhibit would be made. The chairman added that he thought tho iistociafjioii had a good d«al to b« thankful for in lite support the- exhibition had received. (Applause.) The offer of Mr. J. CSodber to provide a tea kiosk at the exhibition was accepted. It was decided that season tickef-s for the exhibition should be issued at the following rates : — Gentlemen, 10s 6d ; ladies, 7r. 6d : and children (under fifteen years), ss. Single- admissions: Aduitb, Is-; children 6d. THE INSURANCE RATES. Before the meeting concluded tho ihanman said he thought the. association should protest against the insurance raie the companies had decided to charge. Tho rate was actually about 40s per ceul. per annum. In his own caso ho eh'ected insurance at 8s 4d per annum. Ho had told uxi insurance manager that tho rate was exorbitant, and was informed, in reply, that he did! not know what ho was talking aoout. I The risk, it was, submitted, was a big I one. Mr. Balliuger said he could not sco it. There was no danger. All round l were fire appliances. The rate in short) was a penal one. Personally, his firm would not insure; they would take th© risk, and he thought they could do so with safety. He would advise every other exhibitor to -db the same. This [ plan, if carried out, would be an effective protest. Mr. Allen, in reference to a suggestion that the State office should be approached, said he understood the private companies were not anxious to take the risk. The chairman added Uial in the case of the old exhibition, held in a wooden and canvas building, the whole insurance amounted to £87 2% 3d. t^ow, with a fireproof building, with concrete floors, it was estimated that the insurance would be £124 16s Bd. It was mentioned that the insurance, under the conditions of the lease with the Harbour Board, has tc be effected with one company. The committee d-erided to make a written protest againtt the rat& fixed by the underwriters.