SCOTTISH INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS ON DISPLAY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27463, 24 September 1954, Page 16

SCOTTISH INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS ON DISPLAY

(From the London Correspondent of “The Press”)

LONDON, September 3. The Scottish Industries’ Exhibition which opened at Glasgow yesterday, is a tremendous parade of industry which will be seen by 60,000 buyers from 32 countries and will show the world the large contribution that Scotland makes to Britain’s export trade. New Zealanders have an appreciation of the quality of many Scottish products, such as whisky, woollens, carpets and biscuits, but there is a huge diversity and range of export goods from the northern country not generally acknowledged in the Dominion.

The alphabetical list of 500 exhibits ranges from abrasives (metallic) to yeast, missing only Q and Z on the way. There are antibiotics and armatures, biscuits and boilers, cakes and clocks, derricks and drums, ships and steel, turbines and tweeds. Whisky is Britain’s biggest dollar earner and this year more than £38,000,000 worth will be shipped abroad. More than half of this total will be sold in the United States. Two-thirds of all British exported beer is brewed in Scotland and last year almost 5,000,000 yards of famous Harris tweed went to overseas buyers. British shipbuilding is without peer and Scotland can boast of almost 40 per cent., of the total output of British yards coming from the Clyde. Steel is of equal importance and a new £25,000,000 plant being built at Motherwell will increase Scotland’s output by 220,000 tons.

About £ 10,000,000 foreign currency is earned each year with Scottish manufactured carpets. Linoleum adds another £6,500,000 to the correct side of the ledger. Scotland has not stopped expanding its industrial field because of the strength of its more famous products. Each year sees more diverse industries with concentration on light engineering. The old is on show with the new. There are electric razors with Celtic art; plastics with Athol Brose—the

ancient Highland drink of whisky, honey, oatmeal and cream. The Scots emphasise that this festival is in no way a rival to the British Industries’ Fair, but an occasion when Scottish manufacturers rally together to present an unbroken front of local goods. To ensure that the exhibition really is a world window for Scottish manufacturing production, 500,000 coloured brochures are sent all over the world months before, many in different languages. The co-operation of international shipping, air and railway lines is secured to bring buyers to Britain and Scottish delegations visit the larger buying centres such as New York to “sell” the festival idea to importing concerns, every avenue is tapped. Representatives of overseas governments in Britain are invited to attend and a member of the New Zealand House staff will represent New Zealand. When the buyers reach Glasgow they find every type of facility available. There are typists, interpreters, and special clubs. Parking space is made available, scenic tours are arranged (Scotland also wants to sell its tourist facilities) and accommodation is provided for any buyer who has not made his arrangements in advance.

An arena with seating capacity for 3000 people has been built for fashion shows. Mr Norman Hartnell, of the Model House Group, and Mr Aage Thaarup, who visited New Zealand earlier this year, are collaborating with leading Scottish woollen and silk textile manufacturers to put on a display which should be of great value to the industry as a whole. The idea is to show that Scotland produces fashion materials worthy of being used by the leading couturiers. Scotland achieved*a record in industrial production last year, and from the evidence available this year the assumption is that progress has been maintained. The Scottish Industries’ Exhibition is one method which is proving invaluable in keeping Scottish industry working at full pressure.