Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6. 1939. A NATIONAL OCCASION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 November 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6. 1939. A NATIONAL OCCASION.

Many difficulties and some heavy discouragements have had to be overcome by the promoters and organisers ol the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition, which is to be opened at Rongotai on'Wednesday. Besides raising impediments in detail to the preparation and assembly of exhibits, disordered international conditions, culminating in the outbreak of the European war, inevitably have done something to limit the scale of attendance and support, the Exhibition can hope to attract. It is particularly to be regretted that the prevailing state 01. world affairs has led to the abandonment of international and other gatherings which amongst .other things would have swelled considerably the tide of visitors to Rongotai. The Women’s Pan-Pacific Conference which had been projected, the visit of a large party of Australian veterans of the Great War, and the Scout Jamboree are all of them a great loss from the standpoint of Exhibition attendance, as well as in other respects.

In spile of all difficulties, however, the Exhibition has taken shape as an impressive enterprise of its kind and the chairman of its board of directors, the Mayor of M ellington (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) has declared his confidence that in its layout and design, and the general attractiveness of the display, and in its power to give a picture of the growth of New Zealand, awaken pride in the past and provide an inspiration lor the future, the Exhibition will be equal to any that has been held anywhere. Competent observers have agreed in bearing witness to the excellence of the various courts and of artistic features in the design of buildings and in many other details, and to the ambitious and elaborate scale on which the entertainment and amusement sections have been developed.

On its merits ami as the principal organised contribution to the celebration of the national centennial, the Exhibition may be expected to attract the attendance ol all New Zealanders who are able to include a. visit to Rongotai in their holiday or other plans. Even in existing conditions, too, there will doubtless be large numbers of visitors from Australia and countries further afield.

On what they have accomplished in face of difficulties that might have been overwhelming had they been faced less courageously, the public-spirited promoters of the Exhibition are handsomely entitled to generous support. In the shape in which it is about to open its gates to the public, the Exhibition is a great, and praiseworthy achievement. Only the right manifestation of interest by members ol the community throughout the Dominion is needed to make this outstanding enterprise in every way an adequate and appropriate commemoration of all that has been accomplished in a hundred years of colonising and later development. In addition to the direct popular appeal which it possesses in rich measure, the Exhibition is of great educational and inspirational value. It has vital significance in its commemoration of our national past and still more as it bears on an unlimited future. It will be remembered as a great event and occasion in the history of our country. The message it has to convey is not for the present inhabitants of the Dominion only, hut it goes without saying that as many New Zealanders as possible, and not least members of the oncoming generation, should visit the Exhibition.