THE 1931 FAIR

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 229, 30 October 1930, Page 11

THE 1931 FAIR

EMPIRJE ENTERPRISE AND INDUSTRIES. VALUE TO DOMINION. fcIn this Dominion we have recentJy had a nuniber of New Zealand and Empire Industries Weeks, and the Britisli Industries Fair in England may well be deseribed as the greatest sliow in the world of Empire products and manufacturers," said Mr L. A. Paish, O.B.E., H.M. Trade Commissioner, in an interview in Wellington, when discussing the value of sucli a fair to New Zealand producers and merchants. The seventeentli fair will be held in London and Birmingham from the 16th to the 27th February, 1931; and the increasing success shown in recent years justifies tlie expectation that the 1931 fair will surpass all records. "When it is realised that there are over 2000 exhibitors occupying more than 800,000 square feet of gross exliibition space, some idea will be gained of the size of the exhibitiou," said Mr Paish. "The major object of the exhibition is to bring together a represenfative collection of the best Britisli goods so that overseas and Home buyers may be able to see under oue roof tlie ' latest products of many competing firms. DISPLAYS OE EMPIRE PRODUCE. "The Empire Marketing Board," remarked Mr Paisli, "always takes a large block of space in wliicli products from the various parts of the Empire are displayed. A small number of manufacturers from tlie Empire overseas also exliibit, and it seems that it would probably be well worth while for New Zealanders to put np an exliibit of tlie manufactured goods which they produce at world prices. To give a single example, it would probably be a profitable proposition for the New Zealand woollen rug manufacturers to stage a composite exliibit, which can be done at a very low cost, and thus bring home to tlie people in Great Britain and to> traders from all parts of tlie world the higli quality of New Zealand's products in this particular line. '"* "Tlie Fair is essentially a business Fair, and tlie exhibition in London is not open to the public nntil the evening, so that trade buyers can operate in the absence of large crowds for tlie • greater part of tlie day. The public : ore admitted in the evening simpTy for j the purpose of enabling tlie ultiniate ( onsunier to see the, enormous range of British goods whicli are available i'or his consumption. Substantially the Fair is self-supporting, and the only contribution from official sources is the' grant of £25,000 a year for advertising which has been mad© for tlie last few years and has to be spread over tlie wliole world. This, it may be said, is tlie only money that the Government in Great Britam provides for advertising British goods overseas, as the whole of tlie fuuds of the Empire Marketing Board spent on publicitv work — many liundreds of thousands of pounds a year — are spent in tlie Home Country adVertising Empire produce there. OI'HER EXHIBITIONS. "Coincident witli the Fair next February will be held at tlie Aioert xiall the exhibition of artificial silk goods which has been arranged for severai years by tlie 'Drapers' Organiser,J tlie "well-known trade paper. Ihis will last only from the 16th to the 21st . Februaiy, whereas the Fair itself will be open from the 16th to the 27tli. In London tlie Fair will be held at Olympia, whicli has liow been considerab'ly extended so as to cope witli ^the ever-increasing demand ior spac-e. rllie cotton textile section will be liekl at tlie White City, wliich'is withiii easy reacli of Olympia and the Albert llall. The Birmingham section will be ^ at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham. This part of tlie Fair deals mainly Avitli the metal trades, many of whicli are located in the industrial area in the inunediate vieinity of Binningbani. Birmingham ■is only a matter oi' a two-hours' journey from London. Full particulars of tlie exlnlutions whidh will take place in February next are in tlie hands of His Majestv's Trade Commissioner /'Mr L. A. Paish) in Wellington, who will be pleasecl to arrange for any further informatioii required by business inen interested.