No Chicago.

Manawatu Herald, 22 September 1892, Page 2

No Chicago.

We are glad to see that the chairman of the Wellington Chamber o Commerce has pushed the Minister of Public Works into an awkward corner re the representation of this colony at the Chicago Exhibition. The Post prints his letter to the Minister and the reply, which is, if not sweet, at anyrate short as it states that " Parliament having dealt with the question after full' consideration; the Government is unable to take any further action in the matter."

We remarked, only a few issues ago, on the half-hearted manner the Minister had acted, and we doubted the assertion that the majority of the Chambers of Commerce demanded payment for the exhibits. Mr Gale's letter cuts this contention away from the Minister's hold, as he states that ♦' the Auckland Chamber is the only one that did not respond to your invitation, but refused to assist unless the Government bought the exhibits," After twitting the Minister with having asserted at a public meeting that " it would be of the greatest benefit to Mew Zealand if she were properly represented at Chicago " he goes on to assert that he has no doubt that even now, if the Government is in earnest, and will take the matter in hand with the energy the subject deserves, it would be warmly supported in the endeavour to secure for this colony, comparatively a minimum cost, the advantages and benefits so correctly indicated by you in your remarks at the meeting held in Wellington in December, and when addressing other centres." Yet this letter was put aside with the answer we have given above. The excuse new is, not that the Chambers of Commerce want payment tor their exhibits, but that Parliament has considered and refused. How much did the Minister strive to secure the object ? He allowed the matter to be dis.

cussed indirectly and accepted a reduction of a vote as the . guide. If the Minister had been true to his statements that he " was anxious a good show should be made" he would have brought the question before the House in a totally different manner to the way he did, and could have got the government 'majority to have voted for" him. He' was not for Chicago and therefore those desirous of going there might instead, go to Hopg Kong for all he cared. This is a pfabHc man of the latter day stamp.