TRADE EXHIBITION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 131, 16 March 1931, Page 5

TRADE EXHIBITION

DISPLAY AT BUENOS AIRES.

INDUSTRIES OF BRITAIN.

OPENED BY PRINCE OF WALES. (United Press Association—Copyright). BUENOS AIRES, March 14. Li formally openingi the British Empire Trade Exhibition, the Prince of Wales,' after referring to the pleasure it gave him to personally inaugurate the exhibition, the objective of the journey to Souah America of himself and his brother, said: ''l have no doubt that with the help of modern inventions and science, 1 could have performed the ceremony Avithout leaving London, but that would have been inadequate to express my sense of appreciation at the exceptional importance of this exhibition, to the future of British trade with the Argentine Republic, and the debt of gratitude which the British nation owes to the Argentine Government, people and Press for assistance and the welcome extended to the creation of the exhibition. "It is the first occasion on which British traders from the United Kingdom, and the Empire, particularly the Dominion of Canada, have combined to exhibit their products in this manner, and on this national' scale. It is the work of the British Chamber of Commerce of Buenos Aires, but the Chamber would not have been able to organise it if it had not been offered the generous co-operation of the Argentina Rural Society, which placed its spacious grounds and buildings at the disposal of the Chamber, a contribution of great material value, but representing something greater, the moral significance of the goodwill of the Argentine people toward the British and toward the products of British industry. A "This exhibition is the British response, at a time when the tide of prosperity has receded, and the activities of trade everywhere have slackened. The participation, of British manufacturers has exceeded all estimates and expectations formulated in better times. | This is indicative of the spirit of enterprise of British industrialists, aid the confidence they feel, not onlv in an early recovery of prosperity in the Argentine Republic, but also 'in their own ability to maintain and extend their trade relationships with it. * 'Argentina will see represented here every British industry which can aid her development, and in the assembly of. products chosen special regard has been paid to the particular needs of this country. In the various transport sections are the engines which carry us swiftlv and safely, whether by sea., rail, air'or road. The manufacturers of Argentina will find the latest mechanical equipment; pastoralists and agriculturalists will make acquaintance with many modernised types of machinery, and the Argentine housewife will seek among the applies arts some of the inspiration which converts a mere house into a home, for it is not only in mass production, but in beauty and the fitness of individuality that- true progress lies. "The pavilion of the Dominion ot Canada will show fully, geographically for the first time, to the Argentine the national progress of another great nation in the north, with the development of its vast resources in a way which must be full of interest to a country which has so many similar economic problems. "There is a spirit of revival among British industrialists, and this exhibition is a sign thereof. The dislocation of the old highly-organised methods of industry and commerce have given way to a period of reorganisation, which is now ending. The process of adapting the mechanism of trade to new" conditions is almost complete. England has refreshed l and rcstrengthened her original powers. The countries which have suffered most from the prevailing economic depression are those with the largest foreign trade. Great Britain and Argentina are together in that category. Their export trade per capita is almost precisely equal. Foreign trade is vital to prosperity, and failure to recognise trade as an interchange, and the obstacles placed in the way of reciprocal trade are perhaps the main causes for the world's present troubles. If, as wc all hope." the response of the Argentine purchasing public to the appeal of the exhibition leads in some measure to a revival of industrial prosperity in Great Britain, and consequently a diminution of industrial unemplovment, the reciprocal result of an increase in British- 1 consumption of Argentine meat and cereals is certain. The interchange has, however, no narrow meaning restricted to commerce. Of equal significance is the development of mutual cultural knowledge. England desires an exchange with Argentina of ' the ideas of visitors as well as goods. This exhibition will have that effect." The Prince spoke briefly in Spanish, stressing the value of personal visits and l the opportunities for forming: cultural and social contacts, and extending an invitation to Argentinians to visit Groat Britain.

He concluded: "I dedicate this exposition to the Argentine people, and confidently entrust its success to their care."

WIDE RANGE OF EXHIBITS.

BRITISH SPEED CRAFT. BUENOS AYRES, March 13. The Union Jack flew to-day in Palermo Park, from the fastest craft on earth, sea, and sky, in the exposition here, designed to bring Britain back to pre-eminence ip Argentina's foreign trade. The motor of the British aeroplane which won the 1930 Schneider Trophy race, the speed boat in which Sir Henry Segrave died after setting the world record, and the motor-car, the Golden Arrow, in which he travelled at the record speed, were mounted in the exhibition halls. The Prince of Wales is ready to fling wide the doors of the exposition on Saturday. He came by aeroplane from Mar del Plata.

British-made goods ip' the great trade show ranged from the largest locomotive in South America to jewels of rain-drop size. Canada showed 50,000 dollars' worth of pictures cf Canadian scehes.

PRINCE DECORATES MINISTERS. BUENOS AIRES, March 14. The Prince of Wales decorated President Unburn with the Grand Cross

of the Order of the Bath, and later pinned other decorations on to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, War, Marine, and Interior.

TOUR DRAWING TO A CLOSE. BUENOS AIRES, March 14. The Prince of Wales made his. last appearance here to-night at a grand ball on the flying deck of H.M.S. Eagle. He leaves Buenos Aires at dawn on Monday in an aeroplane for Qordoba, where he will remain until ready to board the steamer for home.

AMERICAN PRESS ACCOUNT.

POPULARITY OF THE (PRINCE

NEW YORK, March 15

The New York Times" correspondent at Buenos Ayres says: To be "in trade" ought never again to be the odium to Britain, for British trade was raised almost to the level of the sublime today upon the occasion of the inauguration of the British Trade Fair by the Prince of Wales. British marines formed a £Tiard of honour at the exposition grounds, and the band of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders played the Argentine and' British National Anthems, and the King himself sent a message to Argentinians, calling their attention to the importance of the exposition. The fair opened with all the pomp and glory, of an international event. The Prince of Wales, speaking on an international hook-up, delivered his vigorously-applauded inauguration address, which was heard in Britain as well as in America, the speech being delivered in English and excellent Spanish. Never has any foroign visitor to Argentina made himself so popular as the Prince of Wales, and he undoubtedly would be elected President of the Argentine Republic to-morrow if he wantedl the position. His popularity in South America is incredible; only part of his attraction is duo to being of Royal blood, the rest being due simply to his ability to make himself extremely popular without trying to do so.