THIS PROPOSED EXHIBITION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2353, 18 October 1881, Page 3

THIS PROPOSED EXHIBITION.

A special meeting of the Industrial Association was held last evening at the Corn Exchange for the purpose of considering the question of the proposed exhibition projected by Messrs Joubert and Twopeny. Mr J. P. Jameson (president) occupied the chair, and there were about fifty members present. The Chairman explained the object of the meeting and the steps that had been taken in the matter up to the present time. The association being of opinion that the international exhibition whioh it was proposed to hold in Dunedin was beyond the requirements and capabilities of the oolony, appointed a committee to confer with the Government, with the view of bringing about an intercolonial exhibition to be held in Ohristchurch. While the committee were in communication with the Government a letter was received from Metsrs Joubert and Twopeny inquiring whether the association would be disposed to render them assistanoe in their effort to establish an international exhibition. A largo meeting of the committee of the association was thereupon held, at which it was decided to telegraph to Messrs Joubert and Twopeny assuring them of the hearty support of the association in carrying out their enterprise, on condition that every facility would be given for the display of local productions. This resolution was telegraphed and a letter forwarded to Messrs Joubert and Twopeny explaining more fully the views of the association. At this stage he received a requisition from twenty-five members of the association asking him to call a general meeting to consider the action of the committee, and how far it was consistent with the professed objects of the association. In their letter the committee requested to be informed what advantages would be secured to local exhibitors, and they were told that it was proposed to reserve one-third of the whole area to New Zealand. Messrs Joubert and Twopeny expressed themselves as very sanguine of the success of their project. Mr Rowland, whose name was the first on the requisition, explained that he took the action he did beoause he considered tbat the committee, in promising support to the Exhibition, were acting in direct opposition to the principles of the Association, and Le thought it desirable to obtain the opinion of a general meeting. Mr H. J. Ross moved—" That tho action of the eommittee in pledging the Association to support and assist Messrs Joubert and Twopeny in their projected exhibition was hasty and injudicious, as such an important tubjeot should have been referred to a general meeting of the Association." He referred to the Adelaide Exhibition as a huge commercial speculation, and said that to support a similar exhibition to be held in Ohristchurch would be highly inconsistent on the part of an association formed for the encouragement of local industries. The object of Messrs Joubert and Twopeny would be to bring into Christohuroh as many goods of foreign manufacture as they could get into their exhibition, and such a proceeding was opposed to the interests of the Association, whose efforts were direoted to the protection of local manufactures. When a preteotive tariff was imposed in Yictoria many •aid it would be impossible to compete with imported goods ; but the people determined to wear nothing that was not of of colonial make, and the result was that in a short time the prices of the local were below those of the imported article, and the goods of better quality. He was astonished when he found tbat, on the motion of Mr Allen, the committee had agreed to bring foreign goods into Ohristchurch to be sold at a cheap rate, and thus keep our workmen out of employment. Instead of New Zealand having onethird of the space, it should be reversed, and Messrs Joubert and Twopeny should only have one-third.

Mr Mosley seconded the resolution. It would be altogether opposed to the interests of the Association to encourage two gentlemen who were only travellers, and who represented large houses at home, to bring their commodities here and do as muoh business as they could—to come to take the bread out of the mouths of our own people, and to take the trade out of the hands of those who were engaged in local manufactures, which it should be the object of the Association to foster. It was not only in the interests of the manufacturers, but also of the shopkeepers that they should oppose the proposed importation of foreign goods. In Adelaide, watches were sold to such an extent at the Exhibition as to prevent the local tradesmen' from doing any business whatever in that article for months. The only newspapers that supported the movement were those that advocated free trade. The interests and objeots of the association were of an entirely opposite character. Mr Neil Black thought it a pity if the local tradesmen and manufacturers had not the courage to meet these exhibitors, whose goods were subject to a heavy duty. Mr L. Bergh said he had been assured by two very competent authorities that the Exhibition at Adelaide was only a twopennyhalfpenny show, and a huge fanoy bazaar. Such an Exhibition would be an injustice to the shopkeepers. They should be allowed to pay £2 a- week for stalls, and go in and sell goods themselves. Mr R. D. Thomas thought the speakers were rather travelling from the real question at present before the meeting, which was whether or not the committee was justified in holding out inducements to Messrs Joubert and Twopeny without consulting the association. A matter bo directly in opposition to the trade and local interests of Canterbury should have been brought (before the association, and should not have been decided suddenly by the committee. Mr J. B. Sheath pointed out that the rules of the association distinctly stated tha*. its object was to foster and encourage local industries and productions, and therefore they oould not assist in [the importation of foreign goods to the detriment of local manufactures.

Mr. H. B. Kirk thought the oommittee went too far in committing the association to an approval of Messrs Joubert and Twopeny's soheme and in promising support. Mr T. R. Johnson said they were not likely to get sufficient assistance from the Government to enable them to hold an Industrial Exhibition, and here was an opportunity of obtaining an Exhibition of all the latest productions of the older countries, which would be the means of affording instruction to our manufacturers and our young artisans, and it was an opportunity which they should not refuse simply on the ground of an imaginary injury to the interests of shopkeepers. He did not think they should censure the oommittee for their action, and would move as an amendment—" That this meeting cordially endorses the action of the committee in its endeavour to further the success of the International Exhibition proposed by Messrs Joubert and Twopeny to be held in Ohristchuroh in 1582." Mr B. H. Wood seconded the amendment. He was certain there was not one genuine manufacturer in Canterbury who would not hail with satisfaction any opportunity of displaying his goods against any that could be imported. There were some things which they would not be able to produce for fifty or 100 years, and in respect of those there need be no fear; but in regard to articles of everyday consumption they had nothing to bo afraid of. The Exhibition would have a good effect in bringing about an interchange of knowledge with people from other places, who would become acquainted with the great value and variety of our natural resources. Dr. Yon Haast "said that in seoonding the resolution passed by the committee he took a broader view of the subject than many of those who had spoken. Besides, he knew it was impossible to get £IO,OOO from the Government for the purpose of an intercolonial exhibition, and also tbat any of the other large towns would be glad to have the exhibition, as it would benefit not only manufacturers and shopkeepers, but everybody in the place. Mr W. 8. King was of opinion that tho proposed international exhibition was antagonistic to the principles of the association. It was only a commercial speculation instituted for purposes of profit. The amendment was put and lost, and tho original motion carried, Mr J. B. Sheath moved the following resolution : —" That this association being formed for the fostering and encouragement of native industries and productions, cannot assist or snpport any exhibition of products which do not come within the objects of the association." He considered that their rules left them no option in the matter, and that they could not assist into the market foreign goods to supply the place of their own productions. Mr Thomas seconded the motion. Whatever opinions they might hold as citizens on this subject, as members of the association they could not consistently with their principles assist at the introduction into Christ - church of foreign goods in the manner proposed, The objeot of an international exhibi-

tion was totally at variance with the avowed objeot of this association, which, at a lime when trade in Canterbury was languishing, was formed for the purpose of assisting local industries. 0.-. eof the objeots which it had in view, and which it had successfully carried out, was to get the duties on the raw material required in local manufactures reduced; and it had also been able to get the duties on imported manufactures increased. That being so, how could it consistently encourage the importation of £30,000 or £40,000 worth of foreign manufactured goods into tho colony free of duty; for that was what it came to,, because duty was only paid after the articles were sold. After some further discussion the resolution was put and carried. A vote of thanks to the cbairrr.a-: terminated the proceedings.