EXHIBITION MANAGER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20087, 6 November 1939, Page 11

EXHIBITION MANAGER

MR. C. P. HAINSWORTH

GRASP OF ESSENTIALS

FIFTY-FIRST FAIR

(Specinl to the Horalil.) WELLINGTON, this day

A pleasant-mannered Yorkshireman, slightly built, quick in action and decision is Mr. C. P. Hainsworth, general manager of the Centennial Exhibition. To the accompaniment of constant telephone calls he discussed with the Herald’s representative some of the highlights of exhibition policy, confessing that this is his fifty-first exhibition. Though he maintains his enthusiasm, he suggests lhat it will be his last exhibition, and he is well satisfied with what lias been achieved so far.

Mr. Hainsworth declared that every part of New Zealand backed up the project heartily, enabling a splendid scheme to be planned and carried out. Then international events dealt it a heavy blow, which the directors decided must not be a “knock-out.”

As some evidence of the tremendous preparation needed, Mr. Hainsworth said he commenced his duties three years ago. One of these years he spent overseas, inspecting the Golden Gate Exhibition in San Francisco in its preparatory stages, and also seeing the New York World Fair in the making. Then he attended the opening of the Glasgow Exhibition, and all this experience, backed by a lifetime in this kind of work, has gone into building up the programme of attractions in the Centennial Exhibition during the next six months.

Keeping Up the Interest

“I have in my mind a perpetual flow of attractions,” said Mr. Hainsworth, “otherwise the attendances must flag. So we shall be constantly providing something new and novel. One large area of the Exhibition is set aside for a series of special exhibitions on a competitive basis. We start with a model engineering exhibition for the first month. Then we stage a model aeroplane exhibition, with flying competitions indoors. This runs for a month from December 18, and it will be followed by an international photographic competition, the entry forms for which went all over the world, printed in three languages. There is also to be an exhibition of sketches.

“Our biggest disappointment has been on the musical side, the inability of the Welsh Guards Band to leave England owing to the war, but we have endeavoured to arrange attractive musical programmes throughout the whole six months, and the outdoor provision for this purpose is recognised as outstandingly superior to anything previously seen in the southern hemisphere.”

Decision to “Carry On”

Discussing the decision of the directors that the Exhibition should open despite the outbreak of war, Mr. Hainsworth said the bulk of the money had been spent, and most of the staffs engaged.

“To carry on seemed the most sensible decision,” declared the general manager. “Having decided to do so, we did not stint the remaining plans in any way, and we have not reduced the scope of the big show, I am safe In saying tnat it will come up to the expectations of the most exacting visitor. Every part of the Exhibition is filled, though the response of some of our manufacturers was disappointing. However, there is so much to see that the visitor will not notice any gaps, though I think some manufacturers will ultimately regret lost opportunities.

“The governments of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Fiji and the State of California have provided wonderful shows, and the Dominion Court with its distinctive displays from 2(i departments of TJtate :s a great exhibition in itself.” Finances of the Exhibition

Mr. Hainsworth was induced to give some general information about the ways of financing the great undertaking. on which by the opening day over half a million had been spent on buildings and grounds. Commercial exhibitors rent space, and complete their rental payment on the opening day. An English company paid £IO.OOO for the amusement park, 10 acres in extent, and after it has recovered its expenditure on attractions, pays the Exhibition Company a share in profits.

“The entrance charge is Is, and the turnstiles will be our greatest revenue-producers,” explained the general manager. “We expect to take 5,000,000 shillings at the 28 turnstiles during the six months. This estimate of a 5,000,000 attendance is based on experience of the Dunedin Exhibition, where there was a total attendance ol 8.250,000. Half of that came from the immediate surroundings. Dunedin is looked upon as being at the extreme end of the country, and the Centennial Exhibition is situated almost in the exact centre, easily reached from north and south, while the population immediately around it Is more than double that of Dunedin.”