Checks, Discount, & Special Purpose Tokens - Passes &

Lot 4899    SESSION 17 (9.30AM FRIDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER)    Checks, Discount, & Special Purpose Tokens - Passes & T

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

NEW ZEALAND CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION, 1939-40, Pass, uniface struck in gold (9ct, 10.9g, 31mm) and blue enamel, reverse inscribed 'Sir Alexander Roberts/From/T.C.A.Hislop C.M.G./Chairman/Charles Todd Esq./Deputy Chairman' (M.-). Some damage to enamel, ring top missing, otherwise fine and very rare.

Unlisted in Morel.

(Courtesy Gavin McLean and Victoria University of Wellington): -

Wellington had not hosted a major industrial exhibition since 1895 and, in 1930, the mayor, Sir George Troup, began a campaign for the city to hold a centennial exhibition. The depression intervened but his successor, Thomas Hislop, revived the idea and led a deputation to Rt Hon M.J. Savage in January 1936 to ask the government's support. The Prime Minister's discussion with the deputation focused his attention on the centennial and in May the government made a policy statement that included its willingness to give financial support for a centennial exhibition. This would take the form of a grant of up to ?50,000 (initially on the basis of one pound for every two pounds' worth of shares sold) and a loan of ?25,000. This would be nearly one third of the ?250,000 of the government's budget for the centennial celebrations.

The Centennial Exhibition fell short of Dunedin's in that it could not claim the coveted 'international' status. Before 1928 no rules had governed the running of international exhibitions. As these events grew in frequency, cost and political significance the need for minimum standards and sensible scheduling arrangements became obvious. In November 1928, therefore, many nations signed a convention on the use of the term 'international' for exhibitions. Signatories could not attend 'international' exhibitions not endorsed by the Paris secretariat. New Zealand was not a signatory, but Australia, Canada and Britain were, so the New Zealand High Commissioner urged caution in August 1937 when the Wellington company directors began talking about their exhibition as 'international'. The word 'empire' was acceptable, but J. W. Heenan, undersecretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, preferred the title the 'New Zealand Centennial Exhibition'. The New Zealand High Commissioner to London helped to secure the King's consent to act as Patron (the Prime Minister served as Vice-Patron and the Minister of Industries & Commerce as Honorary President).

The Wellington promoters followed the Dunedin model and formed a limited liability company to organise the exhibition, the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition Company Ltd (the exhibition company). Its articles of association provided for up to fifteen directors, one to be nominated by the Wellington City Council (WCC), three by central government and the remainder to be appointed by shareholders.

The directors (initially styled provisional directors), all men, came from the greater Wellington area. They were:

Thomas Hislop, Mayor of Wellington
Douglas McGowan, Chairman, Wellington Harbour Board
Charles Turrell, General Manager, New Zealand Shipping Co
Charles Todd, Chairman, Todd Motors
Sir Charles Norwood, Chairman, Dominion Motors Ltd
Charles Westwood Earle, Managing Director, Wellington Publishing Co
William Appleton, Director, New Zealand Guarantee Corp Ltd
Walter McLay, Managing Director, Bryant & May, Bell & Co
John Thomas Martin, Director, Wright, Stephenson & Co
Sir Alexander Roberts, Managing Director, Murray Roberts & Co
Frank Campbell, General Manager, the Scoullar Co Ltd
R.H. Nimmo, General Manager, Hamilton, Nimmo & Sons
The government directors were:

J.W. Heenan, Undersecretary, Dept of Internal Affairs
F.Johnston, Assistant Secretary, Dept of Industries &
Commerce
G.J.Read, Trades & Labour Council.

Sir Alexander Roberts KBE (1883-1961) was Chairman of Murray Roberts & Co from 1940 until 1961.