more on Beecher's exhibition project

   T H Beecher had founded the Native Traders' Protective Association in July 1929,  but it was only in November that an exhibition of Jamaican products became the foremost project of the group.

 On November 1, at a meeting held on 'the steps of the Ward Theatre', it was revealed -

'that the society intends to hold an exhibition towards the middle of January when exhibits from all over the island will be on show.
   The place where the exhibition will be held will be announced shortly, and it is the intention of the Executives to ask His Excellency the Governor, Sir Edward Stubbs, G.C.M.G., to open the exhibition.'
 

   References to an exhibition in January 1930 continued through November:

'The forthcoming exhibition which is being arranged by the officers of the society promises to be a big event. It is understood that many well known officials and prominent gentlemen of the island have decided to become patrons of the Show. The Hon. Sir William Morrison Kt. it is learnt, is being asked to interest himself in the event and it is most likely that the officers of the Kingston C.C. will give the Association the use of Sabina Park to hold the exhibition.
   Mr. S. Hall of Kingston will be in charge of the exhibition and along with the members of the committee are making extensive preparations to make the exhibition a brilliant success.'

Daily Gleaner, November 23, 1929

It does appear a little unlikely that adequate arrangements could have been made in so short a period, but in the event the Association itself disintegrated in December 1929, and the exhibition idea disappeared with it. It seems there was a falling out among the leaders of the Association; Beecher attempted to reorganise his group on a new footing, but without success. There are one or two further references to the group, but it had no later history. 

   In August 1931 when the exhibition project was revived the comment was made that

'The exhibition, which is being organised by Mr. T. H. Beecher, shopkeeper in Kingston, should have been held towards the latter part of last year, but owing to certain circumstances, it had to be postponed.'

This seems to be a reference back to the plans for an exhibition in 1930, which because of 'certain circumstances' were abandoned. The new project was to have a very different history!