other exhibition ideas

   Before I look at some other exhibition suggestions before 1932, I must record that the Gleaner archive at newspaperarchive.com has reappeared safely - not as 'lost' perhaps as previously suggested. This is very good news for researchers into Jamaican history from 1865 onwards.

 

read on for more on other exhibition proposals 

   Dunbar Theophilus Wint, Member of the Legislative Council for St. Ann, was a keen promoter in the late 1920s of the idea of having an exhibition in Jamaica; he was an advocate of a federation of British West Indian colonies, and his exhibition proposal was for an Inter-Colonial Exhibition, as will be seen in the reports shown below.

 

Daily Gleaner, May 5, 1928

from a letter
. . . . We may then turn our attention to the Idea of having an International Exhibitlon in Jamaica. It is thirty-seven years ago since the one and only Jamaica Exhibitlon was held. It was opened on the 24th of January, 1891, by His Royal Highness, George, Prince of Wales (now George V). There has been a growing desire that the present holder of that title being unfortunately prevented from visiting Jamaica in 1920 should do so now, and a resolution passed by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation, now adopted by the Legislative Council expressing the hope that His Royal Highness would be graciously pleased to pay such a visit. While the Prince would no doubt be very happy just to come and look at us, or be gazed upon, it would no doubt make him happier if he could mark such an occasion by the opening of an International Exhibition which would give him the privilege of meeting all the British West Indies in Jamaica.
   I have written at length elsewhere on the matter which I think is worthy of consideration. It would be a great thing for Jamaica, and Instead of 300,000 people passing through the gates, 1,000,000 would this time be a conservative guess.
I am, etc., D. THEO. WINT. May 4, 1928 

 

Daily Gleaner, September 4, 1929
from Demerara Daily Chronicle, August 14, 1929:

MR. WINT'S IDEA.

   Of course the proponent of the scheme of an Intercolonial exhibition is the Hon. D. Theo. Wint, publicist and Legislator and one of the greatest advocates of West Indian Federation that it is possible to find in these parts. Mr. Wint's idea in suggesting an Intercolonial exhibition in Jamaica evidently is that apart from any material benefits that may flow therefrom the people of that Colony should be brought Into greater contact with the peoples of the other West Indian colonies. They should learn more of them, become more acquainted with them and by reason of their knowledge a greater intimacy should develop that eventually may lead to that closer social, economic and political association from which it is our earnest hope that West Indian Dominionship will spring.

>>> for an account of the debate in the Legislative Council on Wint's Exhibition proposal click HERE

 

 There was some enthusiasm for Wint's idea, and a committee seems to have been set up to review the possibilities. 

 

Daily Gleaner, February 12, 1930

PROPOSAL FOR EXHIBITION OF W.I. COLONIES
Canada-West Indies Magazine Comments On Move Made By Mr. D. T. Wint.
OPPOSING SIDES.
Exhibition Would Promote A Better Understanding Among The Islands.

The Canada-West India Magazine for December says:
   When sometime In July or August last we learned of the Hon. D. Wint's (Member for St. Ann's in the Jamaica Legislature) proposal that Jamaica should hold an Inter-Colonial Exhibition in the near future, we were impressed with the possibilities of the scheme. Without entering into its feasibilities on which the people of Jamaica alone are in a position to pronounce, it appealed to us on broad grounds as being an enterprise which, properly conducted with the full co-operation of all the Caribbean colonies, would contribute to the commercial and business relations of the colonies and would make for the material prosperity of the community at large. The mutual converse among the peoples thus brought into contact with each other and the outside world, we believe would exercise everywhere a liberalising spirit productive of commercial and social advantage and better understanding among the peoples of the West Indies.
   Viewing it in this light, we are much gratified at the measure of success that has followed the Hon. Mr. Wint's resolution which was approved by the Jamaica Legislature last November. This resolution read as follows:
   "That this Council is of opinion that it would materially help in furthering the prosperity of Jamaica in particular, and the British West Indies generally, by the holding of an Intercolonial Exhibit in Jamaica in the near future and that the Government should institute enquiries and take steps to bring about the same."
OPPOSING ARGUMENT.
   It would be too much to expect, of course, that the approval of Council would be unanimous in the matter. But it Is encouraging, and we are sure is gratifying, to the Hon. Mr. Wint as sponsor of the resolution that the dissentient argument was based not so much upon the value of the project as upon the financial considerations involved.
   Several of the opposing members [line missing] previous exhibition venture in 1891. They, some of them, failed to appreciate that Jamaica and the West Indies colonies generally stand to-day upon the threshold of a new era of commercial development in which their future destiny depends largely upon the measure of enterprise in which they approach their problems of advertising. For, in the last analysis, the trade exhibition is nothing more or less than an approved method of advertising on the basis of salesmanship by which in business, the retailer displays his wares in his shop. We remarked in the April issue of this Magazine in an editorial upon the benefits of the trade fair, with particular reference to the Toronto Exhibition that to debar the trade exhibition from consideration "on the ground of cost is to refuse to take into consideration the inherent values and unpurchaseable benefits which go with advertising of this nature." It is this advertising value of the exhibition, in our opinion, that should commend the Hon. Mr. Wint's project to the broad-vlsloned consideration of the Legislatures of the British West Indies. It presents a unique opportunity for these colonies to show their wares under most advantageous conditions.
   No less important, in uniting the colonies In a common effort, it might be expected to go a long way towards bringing about that closer economical and political association of which some regard Federation as the desirable eventuality.
   We congratulate the Hon, Mr. Wint on his bold enterprise in this matter and hope that he may have the gratification of seeing the project brought to successful conclusion.

Daily Gleaner, March 1, 1930

Proposal For A W. I. Exhibition
   At the autumn session of the Legislative Council the Hon. D. Theo. Wint, the member for St Ann, brought, forward a resolution suggesting that an Intercolonial Exhibition be held in Jamaica. The proposal found favour amongst the members and the Government agreed to appoint a committee to go into the whole matter.
   It can now be stated that His Excellency has taken steps to appoint the committee and yesterday it was learnt that the members will include Sir William Morrison (chairman), Hon. D. Theo. Wint and certain gentlemen who are well known to the commercial community.
   The committee will investigate the question of cost, the site for the proposed exhibition and the size of the building for holding the exhibition.
   The committee will get to work as early as possible and their report will most likely be ready for presentation at the coming autumn session of the Legislative Council.

Daily Gleaner, March 10, 1930

THE PROPOSED EXHIBITION IN JAMAICA

Committee Appointed By The Governor to Enquire Into The Suggestion.

   The following article appears in "The West Indian Critic and Review" for February:-
   During the 1929 Autumn Session of the Jamaica Legislative Council the Hon. D. T. Wint, member for St. Ann, moved the following resolution which was seconded by the Hon. A. G. Nash, member for Manchester, and adopted by the House:-
   "That, this Council is of opinion that it would materially help in furthering the prosperity of Jamaica in particular, and the British West Indies generally by the holding of an Inter-Colonial Exhibition in Jamaica in the near future, and that the Government should institute enquiries and take steps to bring about the same."
   His Excellency the Governor has since taken steps to put into execution the object of this resolution by the appointment of a committee, with that distinguished son of Jamaica, Sir William Morrison, Kt., as chairman. The committee which is a very representative one is charged "to enquire into the feasibility or otherwise of holding an Exhibition in Jamaica in which the other West Indian Colonies and the Dominion of Canada would be asked to participate; to consider ways and means in connection therewith and to estimate the probable cost of the construction of buildings and laying out of grounds and the working and running expenses of such an Exhibition, also an estimate of the receipts which would be likely to be obtained and what contribution should be required from the Dominion of Canada and the various Colonies; to advise on a suitable site; to ascertain as far as possible what preliminary support can be anticipated from the public either by way of direct subscriptions or of guarantee, and generally to make such suggestions and recommendations in connection with the whole matter as may be thought fit." The few persons who up to the present have been opposed to the holding of an Exhibition have advanced as their only argument the fact that the Exhibition of 1891 was a financial failure. To base opposition to an Exhibition to-day on that ground seems
SO CHILDISH AND RIDICULOUS
that one hardly cares to mention it. It would be interesting to know how many persons failed in business even ten years ago who are to-day making a great success of the same kind of business in the same place. The Exhibition of 1891 was largely an experiment, managed by people of limited knowledge in such a venture and carried through under conditions and an age entirely different from today. We would have been greatly surprised if it had been a financial success, and are surprised that taking everything into consideration it turned out so well.
   But though the 1891 Exhibition was not a financial success it was a tremendous success in other respects, heralding the eve of a new Jamaica and paving the way for the commercial and industrial developments of the last forty years. It first brought Jamaica into direct touch with other countries and placed her on the map. It would be interesting to have all those benefits calculated in pounds, shillings and pence.
   That an Exhibition to-day, which will largely be a Canada-West Indies Exhibition held in Jamaica, will be a tremendous success, financially and otherwise we have not the least doubt. It is only those persons who belong to the old school of "Do Nothing" which so long dominated the affairs of the colony who can really be blind to the advantages to be derived from such an exhibition; and fortunately their influence has within recent years been destroyed by a body of progressive men ot the enlightened school. Other than the direct financial gain the benefits are so great that they can hardly now be estimated or calculated.
   The committee set up by His Excellency the Governor is an excellent one for the purpose, and we have not the least doubt that after carefully considering the question its report will be such as to convince all pessimists that we will be making the greatest move towards stabilising the prosperity of Jamaica by the holding of such an Exhibition. Let us rise above petty jealousy and narrowness and join together to make a great success of a great undertaking, which requires the co-operation and the sympathy of all patriotic sons of Jamaica and which must advance the interest of the entire community and of the West Indies.