October, 1912.] 



309 



THE ALL-CEYLON EXHIBITION. 



We are holding over an account of the All-Ceylon Exhibition, till a 

 balance sheet has been issued and the Committee had finally would up all 

 the affairs, but in the meantime we should like to make some preliminary 

 observations and to put forward some suggestions for the future as the 

 public will certainly look to the Society to follow up its success of July 

 last. That success was due in the main to the great natural resources of 

 Ceylon and the industry and intelligence of the native cultivator. But 

 there is one natural advantage of which no opportunity was taken, namely, 

 the geographical position of Colombo. Some producers in India did ex- 

 press their desire to exhibit, but were refused on the grounds, we believe, 

 of the danger of the exhibition growing to unmanageable proportions. 

 After the success of this year that is an apprehension that need weigh 

 with us no longer. It is merely a matter of organisation with plenty of 

 time in which to prepare. We think, therefore, that Ceylon should 

 contemplate the expediency of from time to time holding an All-East 

 Exhibition instead of only an All-Ceylon. 



The Time. 



The opinion was freely expressed that the time was not well chosen 

 for such a large show though, happily, the weather was particularly kind 

 and held up during the critical week. By holding the Exhibition in 

 January the organisers would be relieved of all anxiety on that score and 

 would themselves be spared much exposure. The lesson of three Secreta- 

 ries being knocked up is not to be ignored. January being the height of 

 the passenger season, gate money might be expected to gain greatly in 

 volume and the country in advertisement. 



Exhibit Fees. 



The introduction of the system of charging exhibit fees should, we 

 also think, be considered to provide the means of awarding money prizes. 

 A small exhibit fee of say 25 cents in the case of peasant cultivators would 

 be set off by the chance of winning a first, second or third money prize of, 

 say, five, three and two rupees. In the case of all other exhibitors the fee 

 should perhaps be one rupee and the prizes higher in proportion, Medals 

 and Certificates of Honour could then be reserved as additional awards 

 for exhibits of particular merit. Under such a system properly financed 

 no grant-in-aid would probably be necessary, especially if the time were 

 changed to January. 



Scope of the Exhibition. 



There were in all 695 classes ( referred to as sections in the Catalogue) 

 embracing almost every variety of product grown, manufactured and 

 mined in Ceylon, collected together in one large Pavilion. In addition 

 certain Provinces built their own pavilions to illustrate their peculiar 

 types of architecture, arts and crafts but products for competition were 

 not exhibited in these, it being necessary both for judging and display 

 that they should be grouped together. Each of the leading European 

 firms erected its pavilion in which to show machinery — principally rubber 

 manufacturing — and other articles of trade and commerce. One or two 

 Government Departments also had their pavilions, the Ceylon Agricul- 

 tural Society of course and other Societies, Associations, districts and, in 

 one or two cases, individuals. On the other side of the road the Horse 

 Show was being held, Thus all Ceylon was in truth collected in, 



