THE HON. J. McGOWAN

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43084, 25 April 1907, Page 4

THE HON. J. McGOWAN

and the exhibition.

Th© 'Son-. J. (McGowan, Minister' of Mines and Justice, speaking ait. the ‘dosing of thia Exhibition, said the fan ancdal position, though it might appear from a book-keeping point of view a considerable expenditure by the Government, would, he felt convinced he a. considerable gain to the colony. First of all, the over-sea traffic had •been mostly, if not altogether ,carried by a New Zealand company, and the profits, while in the first plaice going to the company, were evidently of ail-' vantage to the colony. In addition to that, visitors who came from, a distance spent a certain amount of money while they remained here. Another point .affecting the colonists was v tbait' numbers of local people had visited the Exhibition and put into circulation money 1 thlat otherwise probably would' have been lying to the credit of their aiocount, in most cases hearing no interest. That was Of advantage to the Colony in the Way of circulation. If a fair price Was obtained tor the of the material and buildings that were to be sold, even the hook cost would be considerably reduced.

Even supposing that there Was no financial gain, he Was perfectly satisfied that the time hiad come when a Colonial exhibition should take place at least every ten years. It should be a part of the colony’s business as long as it was trading with other people, j Industrial exhibitions should be of a' local character. They filled a function which was absolutely necessary for a manufacturing people, and a manufacturing people generally became a wealthy people. Therefore, there Was prudence in encouraging local manu-1 fawtures. as much as possible It was also of the greatest importance for the colony to be represented at outside exhibitions. Both courses should be followed. Ah international exhibition after sl\, wa® on' the lines of a business man advertising; if he kept faith with his advertisement, was generally the man to succeed in, business. The Mines Court had been an ©xcedingly interesting exhibit, but it had been spoiled by a division of the different districts), who had 'exhibited separately, while the Government had a most excellent and varied mineral iexhiihiiit from a New Zealand point of view. If the whole of the minerals hiad been exhibited in one large court., instead! of, for instance, Westland, Ahaklandi, and othler districts being separate, the effect’ would have be-m much better. All the exhibits: had been divided, in contradistinction to the excellent show made hy 'Canada, Whose mineral exhibits hiad been all in the one court. The majority of persons were not intersted in mineral exhibits, 'but to those interested the Mine® Court hiad given a. splendid opportunity for the consideration of the various minerals that would at some time very greatly increase the wealth of New Zealand,, which was essentially a country rich in minerals.