The Hutt News THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1930. CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION FOR WELLINGTON PROVINCE.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 48, 8 May 1930, Page 7

The Hutt News THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1930. CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION FOR WELLINGTON PROVINCE.

It is with considerable} pleasure that we not.c the interest with •which the articles in the two previous issues of the "Hutt News" have been received, and it may be said that generally speaking the opinions expressed have been entirely in accord" with those stressed by this paper in favour of the site at Gear Island. An excellent gauge of public opinion may be gained from the conversation of men prominent in business circles, and those engaged in professional and official circles in their morning conversations on their train journey to town. The tenor of the remarks, generally has, we are informed, been quite in favour of the Centennary Exhibition being held, and what is practically a unanimous* opinion that the success or dismal failure of the scheme solely depends upon the location in. Which the monster show is held. And while there are necessarily a few carping critics, who are never satisfied with anything, who have said that too much fuss is being made about <3ear Island altogether, no solicl or tangible argument has yet been advanced against the suitability of the proposal to bring the exhibition to the site on the border of the Hutt Valley. Indeed the more one examines, the proposal, the more favourable it appears, for while there are scores. o£ arguments freely given setting out the .advantages of this proposal, nothing m the way of a solid and reasonable argument has yet been outlined in its disfavour. It is certainly true that people of limited foresight are sneering at any question of sites being raised so far ahead of the date at which it is proposed to hold the great festival. But this is so vital a question, on which actually depends the success or failure of the project, that having decided that,an exhibition shall take place, the promoters are giving early con-^ sideration to it, and very rightly* so too. While we recognise the business acumen, ability, energy, and general desire to do the best for the public good which characterise those gentlemen who have been appointed as a sites committee we, may .perhaps point out that the question upon which they are asked to make recommendations is one in which it would be well for them to secure the expert aid of some one or more persons who have specialists' knowledge in connection with other exhibitions of a similar nature. " Such experts are to be had, and as the locality question is one of vital urgency, we contend that nothing should be definitely settled until the advice of expert specialists on exhibitions has been obtained. In saying this we do not in any way detract from the ability of those business and professional men:.• recently selected as-a-sites committee, but as they themselves, would' be the first to admit, special business must be handled by specialists, and wo doubt if any; of those chosen would attempt to pose as a man of expert and specialist knowledge of exhibitions, although, it must be admitted that one of their number had experience in London, but that was after the site and major details had been determined upon. The argument that the discussion as to site is premature is certainly not well founded* While, it is true that ten years will elapse before the day on which this great mark of a century's progress will be opened by (it is to be hoped), a member of the Royal Family, there is not any too much time when the colossal amount of work^and preparation is considered, and experience has shown that such preparations are essential and even then it is the exception rather «han the ruler when an exhibition of the proposed nature is competed in' its entirety by the day on which Rhe opening ceremony takes place. n£n any case the fact remains that

steps of a preliminary nature, including- the consideration of sites, are already afoot, and it behoves the public of Lhe Hutt Valley to be up ands doing if they are not going to be left out of the race. This is a matter in which every resident, of the Valley, from the head to the sea, is interested in, and we venture to suggest.it as a proper subject for discussion and action by the three Borough Councils, Petone, Hutt, and Upper Hutt, the various Associations, Ratepayers, Municipal, Civic and other having the welfare of their districts at heart to take into their most serious consideration, and such action as may bo deemed advisable. For their consideration we would again stress the point that we have in the district a site—Gear Island—better suited for the purpose than any site that can possibly be secured within the boundaries of Wellington City, and further that it is the eentenna'ry of the Wellington Province as a whole that is being celebrated, not that of Wellington City alone..