BRITISH GOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 142, 15 June 1917, Page 4

BRITISH GOODS.

This may seem an unsuitable time for i an exhibition of British goods in this : Dominion, but the British Trade Com- ' _issioner has acted wisely in accepting the offer of the promoters of the Hawcra Show for space for such a .lis-; play. The experiment will be an interesting one, for we believe it is the first time ; in the history of agricultural shows in I New Zealand that there has been an organised exhibition of British manufactured goods. It is perhaps a little strange that nothing should have been : done before to take advantage of such fine advertising conditions as agricultural shows provide, especially as private j firms selling foreign as well ns British ; and local goods are pushing business more and more at shows. In fact, the primary object of shows, the exhibition of stock and produce, is being challenged ; in popular favour by trade and business' exhibits, and there is hardly a better | way of. reaching the. public by means of j an exhibition than by displaying goods at thes-c gatherings. Mr. Dalton, the British Trade Commissioner, in spite of the great diffie—lties of getting delivery of many classes of British goods, has; arranged an exhibition in which the;. goods of from 60 to SO British manu- | iacturers will be exhibited by some' thirty firms. The promoter? of the I show are making the BritL-h trade exhi- I bition the special feature of the show and during Show Week tho retailers of I Hawera have decided to boll an all- i British display in their windows. j

This is a small beginning to what may he a big movement. If this exhibition is a success we may expect similar displays at the metropolitan shows. After the war there will probably he many trade displays, ranging from this sort oi thing to inter-Imperial exhibitions. The Dominions Coraraiirsion found a general feeling in Britain and the Dominions in favour of inter-Imperial exhibitions aa a means of promoting Imperial trade, and the commission therefore, recommended that nt the first opportunity such exhibitions should be organised in the Dominions. In the meantime good will result from such a modest effort as this Hawcra display. It will not only advertise the particular goods displayed, but it will turn thought tn the question of supporting trade within the Empire, and call attention to the vast manufacturing resources of the Mother Country.