THE COMING EXHIBITION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1923, Page 4

THE COMING EXHIBITION

(Westport “News.”) It is vetj’ pleasing, indeed, to lind the quickened interest being taken in the “Westport district in the British and Inter-Colonial Exhibition to be opened at Hokitika in December. It shows that the public are realising the fact that although the exhibition is not being held in our own town, its value is far from being purely local. Mr Schmitt, the Government representative of Industries and Commerce, was able to make out a good case for exhibition of typical resources of this district. Indeed, ibis suggestion, to lit up the exhibit in Westport, show it here, and then send it on to he reerected at Hokitika, is one that might well be adopted by, not merely Westport', hut by other centres which arc also thinking of exhibiting. It will quicken the interest in the scheme, give tile people an epitome of the resources and potentialities of the district, with wide educational advantages, and aid in inducing them to attend the exhibition and there learn a great deal more of what this wonderfully endowed country of ours is doing, and is capable of doing. The

fact that large firms are vicing with one another for space shows the interest they are taking in the exhibition, and the value they attach to opportunities of the kind for displaying

the goods they manufacture. None of us, it may safely he said, realise what this country is capable of producing. An exhibition gives everyone an opportunity of knowing something more of their own country an|d of turning that- knowledge to somo useful end. Mr Schmitt has ar-

ranged itineraries that will bring people from far and near right into our own town. En route, they will see the glories, of the far-famed Buller Gorge, and while here, through a publicity campaign which it is understood the Buller Progress league intends to take in hand, they will be induced to visit other of our beautyspots, and also to leant something of the great industries of the district. What value we actually receive from the Exhibition is dependent on the interest the people here put into the campaign, firstly, to ensure that Westport. and district are adequately represented in the exhibits at the exhibition. and secondly, in seeing that as many as possible of the people coming to the exhibition make a point of visiting Westport and are enabled to acquire a mass of useful facts concerning our established industries, industries capable of being established, and our potential wealth.