DUNEDIN EXHIBITION

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1924, Page 2

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION

WEST COAST COURT. THE QUESTION OF FINANCID The West Coast i.s to be worthily represented at the Now Zealand and South Seas Exhibition to he held in Dunedin in November next, and a combined Court i.s to bouse an exhibit setting forth the combined resources, us well as the scenic attractions of the Coast. The decision was unanimously arrived at at a meeting of delegates representing various local bodies, which was held in the Municipal Council Chandlers, Greymonth, last night. ’flic Mayor of Greyinouth (Mr W. 11. Parfitt) presided, and.the following delegates were also present : —Mr 1). Teniient (Greymonth Harbour Board), Dr ID Tcichclmaiin (Westland Progress Deague). Messrs E. A. W ells (Chairman. Westland County Council). I). .1. Kvaus (Clerk, Westland County Council). .1. W. Call well (Sawniillers’ Union). AY. .1. .belfries (Westland County Council). .1. O’Brien. M.P.. G. R. Darker. and AY. .T. Greenslade (Greymonth Borough Council). G. A. Perry (Mayor of Hokitika). AA. J. Butler (Sawniillers’ Association), and D. .T. Bell (Chairman of Inangahua County Council). The chairman extended a welcome to the visiting delegates, and expressed pleasure in seeing the Mayor of Hokitika present. He trusted that the result of the nieetng would ho the setting up of a committee, whereby the AYcst Coast would he worthily represented at the forthcoming .Exhibition.

Mr AY. ID Kettle (Chamber of Commerce) also extended a welcome to the visiting delegates.' and endorsed the chairman’s remarks regarding the AA'esfc Coast being represented in a worthy manner at the Exhbition. .Air AY. .). Butler (Hokitika) thought the first step should lie to confirm the desirability of making a joint exhibit at the F.xhibition. That should he the first step to take. It was no use blundering on, and not knowing what tbev were' going to do. He moved that- a joint AYcst Coast exhibit be made. Mr Kettle seconded the motion. Air AA". .1, Greenslade said the cost should h" carefully considered. He thought it would he foolish going on with the exhibit and then finding out that the cost would he against them, lie was in favour of the suggestion to approach the various local bodies for a guarante. Dr. ID Teiehelmauu (Hokitika) supported the motion. Air ID A. AA'ells (Hokitika) in supporting the motion, also agreed with the remarks of Air Greenslade regarding cost. Air D. J. Bell (Chairman of the Inangahua County Council) was not in favour of the motion. Air 1). Teniient supported the notion. The local bodies should he approached regarding the amounts they were prepared ot give, and from the information gained from them, the approximate <<>st could he gleaned. It was a very desirable thing that the Coast should lie worthily represented at the Exhibition, and it was the simplest tiling to go about the matter methodically, and see that, that aim was achieved. ATr D ~1. Evans (Hokitika) expressed the opinion that the matter' of cost would rest finally on what the various local bodies were able to contribute. I’ersonally. he did not think that less than £IOOO would suffice for the purpose. It was essential that the district should lie well represented, and L'looo was not too large a sum to achieve this. There had been cohesion in the past when the local bodies had contributed '.liberally tin objects for which there could not he any adequate return, hut the Dunedin Exhibition was to he an international one. at-tra-tirg people from all over the World, and if the AYcst-Coast* wre propelly repe': "iiD'd. the di'-tl i■ t would indio ;i big advertisement. He would

support the resolution as all initial step. Air .T. O'Brien ALP., thought the resolution a step in the right direction. It would he wise to make a joint exhibit because any other sort of exhibit would not he a worthy one. lly making an exhibit commensurate with the district. the AYcst Coast would receive a big advertisement, and it the various local bodies were to contribute, say £IOO each, the question of cost would he overcome. The resolution was wise, a.s nothing could he done without such a motion being passed. Although the various local bodies might not reieice any direct gain by the expenditure, the advertisement the district would receive would he sufficient compensation to them, lie would support the resolution whole heartedly.

Air AV. J. Jeffries (Westland County Council) thought it would he a national disaster if the AA'est Coast were omitted from the Exhibition. The Coast contained enough resources to make a Court worthy of the district. Regarding the question of cost, he said that a live per cent levy on all local bodies would raise CBOO. Tie favoured the motion, and would support it. Air Green.shide expressed the opinion that if the 'committee 'were c. re

of the money, then it would lie wise l.) go on with the exhibit, lie would support the motion. Mr Hell (I nangahua County Council) said he was in favour of exhibiting at the Exhibition and would support foe motion so long as anybody "-as not to he committed to a stipulated amount. Air H. A. Perry (Alavor of Hokitika) thought the motion of Air Butlel' tin 1 proper course of pursue and being such he would support it. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Air AV. .1. Butler then brought UP the matter of devising ways and means to bring about the onmmitti'o’s ohje'-t. lie moved that- a committee be set up to give ell'cct to the previous motion. Air I’erry beemded vhe mot-nin which was larried unanimously. “That the committee comprise all these present with pm\-r to add members of oilier local bodies,” wa-s earred on the motion of Ab-srs ’lennont and (irei'iislade.

Mr !>. .7. Evans, of Hokitika, was appointed secretary to the committee bv acclamation.

Tt was also abroad tliat eneh eeiitio he asked to appoint its local committee (with sTiitr.iT). the respective Mayors and Chairmen <d the t minus loeal bodies to he asked to "U'-me the necessary meetings. Mr Bell impressed upon the meeting the necessity of eomin« to an < >\v decision retrardino space. the nature of the exhibits etc. The <ommitieo is to meet tuiaiti <>» January 2nd to (to into the ant ei. and in the meantime a Hokitika executive i onsistine of Messrs 1). J. l'.tans. ■\V. .T. Butler and W. J. Jeffries, are to prepare a report which will be presented at that nieetinti. The Mayors and Chairmen of the various loral. bodies are to he asked to place the matter of finance before the bodeis they represent. Mr J. O'Brien M.lh said that although Westport was not represented, that nioht. they would want to have some exhibit ealliiKt attention to the resources of their district. The same applied to other districts. lie (lid not think there would he any bother ihout finance and if the chairmen of the