British and Intercolonial Exhibition.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1923, Page 1

British and Intercolonial Exhibition.

MEETING OF GUARANTORS. THURSDAY, JULY 26th. A meeting of the Guarantors to the Exhibition Fund was held at the County Cham tiers at id 5 o’clock. Present :- Mr I!. Wild (voted to the chair) .Messrs Jeffries. Sellers. Perham, Fowler, Richards. Brace, Aitken, Duff, Clements, Houston. Keller. Jones, W. Wilson. Mdnrosh. G. Heinz, Kvnns and Drs. Teiehelniiinn and Maud!.

Air Wild apologised for the absence of the President (Mr Butler) who was absent in Wellington, and explained that the meeting had been called for the purpose of considering tlie position with regal'd to the guarantee. It would tic remembered, lie said, that in view of the F.xhibitiou Council having to arrange for accommodation, it had been decided to increase the guarantee from £2,o!it) to £3,000, but up to the present £2.odd only, had been raised. There was. therefore, a difference of £!7d, but there was still a number of people to see and if would not he for the guarantors to decide upon the course of action. During the afternoon he had seen some of the Licenced \ iet nailers. and was satisfied that a number of them were making a special effort to provide additional accommodation. This he considered, a very helpful phase, but at the same time, there were other Licensed A ietuallers who were not .i-W-ling either through the guarantee or with provision of extra aeeoniimuialion

A general discussion took place with regard to the position in which Messrs Wilson. Pelham. AtcTntosli, Jeflries. Aitken, Houston, Doctor Teidielinann and others took part. The general feeling was that the whole project had been carried to sucii a point that it was imperative to go on with the project. The Iccling was expressed that upon the completion of the canvass, the full amount of the guarantee would he available, and Messrs Houston, Jeffries, and Evans undertook to have this completed within the next two or three clays.

With regard to hotel accommodation, Mr .Mclntosh and others pointed out what was being dune hy a number of the hotel-keepers, that In addition to giving substantial guarantees, they were also pioviding extra accommodation, ami that in itself necessitated a considerable outlay in the purchase of die beds and bedding, and other requirements for a large inliiix of visitors. He felt stile that the Licensed Victuallers a- a whole would co-operate in the I*est of their ability. They had done mi in the past as occasion ref|Hired aml there was every leason why they should do so at present.

With regard to the linaiicia.l aspect. Mr Kvans pointed out that in view ot the tentative arrangements made with regard to lic.-lel accommodation and the (.os! of equipment, it would be possible for the Council to make a. very substantial saving in the estimate originally made for the purchase of material. Ihe bead of a leading manufacturing firm had suggested a course of action which would stive the Council a vett large sum. ft would also be possible to "assist the finance through the local bodies and the Swings Bank, as it was prop .iv- d l<> ask for legislation empowerin' the im.il bodies and the Bank to contribute legally to the Exhibition, which of course was promoted for the pin pi.-" of nd.crtidli;' the district with :1 view to it-' ultimate expansion. There was also tin. ueial -o-i-tanee to h" de- , ived from tin various spomng bodies, and no doubi the Racing and d lotting Clubs, and .>ilu.-r kindred spotting bodies would be -os,Ming lineneialiy, as

Well a- putting ''it attractive pro„l;i,nines. -A hid, would draw extra VlSlto.s to the tom. over the period oi th,

s| Olds meetings, 'md assist 1,1 creasing the attendance at the G.xlnb,

Don. Mr Aitken was „f opinion that the accommodation question u - ls il.i hint serious matter. Personally he thoughtliiat if enme before finance, as thole was going to he a very large inliux of visitors, and it was for the meeting to consider whether they should lay them- „ (Pit to attract people to the district, unless at the same time 1 ample provision was made for accommodation. Doctor Teidielinann. -Mr fries and others pointed out that m ■ i|| tlie centres it was invariably exp<'i ieiced thill for large gatherings the accommodation was taxed to Urn utmost and while there would he a very huge number id visitors here, they lelt that main private people would roe to til" occasion and do what they could to accommodate the inliux.

Mr Wilson eventually proposed that this meeting of guarantors c\|" ess Us faith and confidence m the abiluw ol Executive Council to carry out the project ns originally designed, and authorise that body to proceed as alteady determined. Doctor Tcidielmnnn seconded the motion, winch was suppoiicd bv the Chairman, Air Brim,', am others and carried iinauiitioiisly. Mr Houston volunteered t" tindert'.ke the collection ol the remainder ot the guarantee required, and -Messrs .Je(fries and Evans also agreed to operate with Mr Houston. It was resolved that the guarantee Dm be completed bv Alntiday and that the h-t ol ,/uarantors he published on Tm-day

next. « , ~ f Mr Jeflries moved that the Mayor of Grevmoitth he written io with regard to convening a meeting ot ' uon ' l< Viet nailers in Hint town lor the purpose of co-operating will, regard to providing extra accommodation, and that- in the event oi extin assistaiar being available, that the Council arrange for a service of night trains between Hie two towns for the convenience of the public. Doctor Toiolmlnumr, seconded the motion, which "f' enrried. . , Mr Jeffries moved further, that Messrs Perliain rmd Wilson and Doctor Teiehelniiinn he added to the Execul ive Council on behalf of the guarantors to assi-r in. the liianngeie.ont and control of the Exhibition. Air T. M . Hrnee seconded the motion.—Carried. Messrs Houston, Duff, AYi lson. McIntosh. and Keller were appointed a special accommodation committee to arrange with the hotelkeepers of town and district for the provision of all possible extra accommodation over the period of tlu* Exhibition. The Chairman handed in a letter from Afr AY. J. Butler in which he regretted that tlx urgency of his business prevented giving his attention to Exhibition matters to tlie extent whirl, would be necessary to ensure success, and desired to tender his resignation as President, but offering to give any assistance within hi- power on any of Hie committees to which he might he appointed. The letter was received and it was resolved to hold over consideration of same until Atr Buter’s return, when the matter could he dealt with at a meeting of the F-.oov.tive Council.