NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19472, 6 May 1925, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

THE OTAGO COURT. BRUCE COUNTY’S CONTRIBUTION. At the monthly meeting of the Bruce Countv CounciJ at Milton yesterday Mr W. B. Steel, organiser for the Otago Court at the New Zealand and South Seas Exnibition, appeared to solicit the county _s support in connection with representation in the provincial court. . Mr Steel said that a recent meeting ot delegates from various local bodies in Otago had arranged a scheme in connection with the Otago Court for exhibiting primary and secondary products. The system adopted by the other, provinces—and it had been followed by Otago—was to take the capital value or the unimproved value and assess the grant on those figures. On taking the capital value of the Bruce County at l-52d per £1 the total would bo £232, and at l-i6d per £1 on the unimproved value it would amount to £SOB, so the county’s grant had been fixed at £2OO. which was a very fair rating. Continuing, Mr Steel said that so keen was the interest that had been evoked that it might be possible that more than 5000 ft of space would be required for the Otago Court. He urged the council to give its wholehearted support to the project, which would undoubtedly bo carried to a successful issue. The idea was that Otago would have to compete against the other provinces and it would be found that Otago was nos so much asleep as residents in northern centres believed. The matter of the Bruce County’s grant _ was provided for in the “Washing-up Bill,” and the money could be taken from ordinary revenue instead of from the unauthorised expenditure account. There was going to be a good deal of rivalry between the various provinces. Southland, though _ only a small province, was well ahead with its scheme, and intended to make a feature of the. display of coaL Otago could also feature this product, but the Bruce County had a fine asset in its woollen mills and its potteries. In conclusion Mr Steel said that all the local bodies in Otago were endeavouring to arrange a Court of which they would be justly proud. Ho fell quite confident that the Bruce County would support the project, and that it would co-operate with the other local bodies in making the Exhibition a success. After answering a number of questions Mr Steel withdrew. Cr V. Wilson said that the council should support the Exhibition; it was “boasting” the whole of the South Island. People would come from all over the world to see it. Such an Exhibition would perhaps ooour only once in a lifetime. Cr A. Renton moved, and O T. Johnson seconded, “That the council make a grant of £l5O to the funds of the Otago Court.” Cr W. J. Sheat moved as an amendment, and Cr Wilson seconded: “That the full amount of £2OO be the Bruce County’s contribution.” Cr T. Scott moved as a further amendment, and Or W. Bell seconded: “That £lO a riding be levied for this purpose.” The Chairman (Mr Jasper Clark) said that he was convinced that the council should do something. One thing was important and that was that the exhibitors would benefit by the facilities for the display of their produce at the Otago Court. They must look at the project from a dominion-wide aspect. After considerable discussion it was finally decided to contribute £l5O to the funds of the Otago Court at the Exhibition