THE DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

Shannon News, 24 June 1927, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

OFFICIAL PUBLISHED

A just issued, of which we have received a copy, is the Official Record of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition held at Dunediu in 1925-26.. It was a happy thought on the part of the Executive to publish an authoritative history of what was easily the most successful venture ot its Jiind that has been attempted in Now . Zealand. In gold-lettered titling on Hue boards, the Record comprises some ' 168 pages of interesting matter, with innumerable illustrations from photo graphs and two folder panoramas" of the buildings and grounds, and the Art Gallery. It provides an exhaustive survey of the whole enterprise and both in ' matter and manner reflects credit upon the official historian, Dr. G. E. Thompson, M.A., Litt.D., who acknowledges his indebtedness to various officers of the Exhibition and chiefly to Mr I. G Mclnnes, the Publicity Officer. The Record opens with passing reference to previous international display* held in New Zealand, gives details of the origin and organisation of the Exhibition, with interesting descriptions of the grounds and buildings and a report of tho opening ceremony, and thence passes ' * to a general rurvey, with particular • reference to the many courts and features of the great enterprise Full statistics are given of the financial re- ' - suits, attendance, and there are many appendices covering the work of organisation and the awards made. After reading the Record one cannot •' but appreciate the magnitude of > the task faced by the Executive when they set out to organise the Exhibition, tho '- enthusiasm and energy with which they attacked their task and the conspicuous success of their enterprise. The official historian has done his work with admirable care and has produced a volume that will be a"worthy and valu- "•' able record as well as a very readable account of a notable achievement in the j history of the Dominion. As an exam- '• pie of the even-handed justice he has out to the individuals responsiV'- ble for the organisation we are pleas*c ed to notice the fairness with which .;'-' he'has referred to the genesis of the r ; Exhibition. This was the subject of a •'..' rather embittered controversy, nothing ;* more than an echo of which, however, * was allowed to pass beyond the con- ■■■ ' ■ finea of Duhedin itself. Dr. Thompson p' pointa out. that a more or less vague fcV»uggestion for the holding of some If;: .

sort of Exhibition had existed for several years. '•■ The Dunediu Manufacturers' Association had discussed plans in 1922 for an Industrial Exhibition in 1924 and a Carnival Week and Back-to-Dunedin Week was also proposed. Not till 1923 did it advance beyond the stage of private conversation and no mention of it had yet reached the public press or municipal records. "The project of an Exhibition on a major scale was definitely brought before the public in a letter by Mr Edmund Anscombe (afterwards appointed Exhibition architect) which appeared in the Evening Star of January'27, 1923. Shortly before the appearance of his letter' he had returned from a tour overseas deeply impressed with the commeicial and educational value of exhibitions as 'time-keepers of progress' and as stimuli to trade and manufacturers. The suggestion put forward by Mr Anscombe was that the local Industrial Exhibition to-be held in Dunedin in 1924 should be replaced by one en the largest and most comprehensive scale—'an Exhibition which would eclipse anything previously lield in New Zealand, and which would be a syniboi of New Zealand's spirit, typifying the icsourees, enterprise and progress of the Dominion and covering industry, agriculture, horticulture, manufactures, the sciences, and products of studio, office, forast, mine, field and stream.' " Mr Anseomle's proposal Avas promptly taken up by the Evening Star and many prominent business men and representatives of public bodies and pushed to it j final success it proved to be. While it is invidious perhaps to single out individuals from amongst those responsible, in small or great degree for that splendid issue, gratification must be expressed that in the Offiial Record justice has at length been done to a gentleman who did not receive due recognition in official publications issued during the currency of the Exhibition.