Firm Flying Retailers To Australia For Convention

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30769, 5 June 1965, Page 19

Firm Flying Retailers To Australia For Convention

The biggest civilian airlift from New Zealand will take place this week-end with the departure from Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland of more than 250 electrical retailers and their wives for a 14-day New Zealand trade convention at Surfer’s Paradise.

The “Return to Paradise” convention has been organised by Philips Electrical Industries of New Zealand Ltd., which staged a similar convention, on a smaller scale, at Surfer’s Paradise in 1962. The earlier convention proved so popular that plans were made for a 1963-64 “return” convention, but this had to be abandoned after fire gutted the company’s head office building in 1963. This year’s convention will be attended by almost twice as many people as that of three years ago, and according to its leader, Mr M. H, Harding, the marketing manager of Philips, it will be “brighter and better.” “This time we shall be staying longer, too. and shall have an excellent opportunity to publicise New Zealand and this country’s products,” he said. Air New Zealand will fly the delegates to Australia and is supporting the venture by flying the well-known Te Pataka Maori Concert Party to Surfer’s Paradise for the occasion.

Appreciating the promotional opportunities presented by the convention, the Department of Industries and Commerce and the Government Tourist and Publicity Depart-

ment have co-operated with Philips in many ways. A window-spotting competition, open to Australians, will have 200 stores in the Gold Coast area displaying New Zealand-manufactured products. Called “Spot the Kiwi,” the competition will be supported by the Gold Coast Chamber of. Commerce. It has a £lOO first prize. The Government Tourist and Publicity Department has built a working geyser and mud-pool unit which will be installed in the foyer of the Chevron Paradise Hotel —the convention venue—beneath a landscaped exterior. The unit is an ingenious array of tanks, pumps, water heaters and assorted plumbing which throws boiling water up to 10ft in the air and provides gurgling mud pools. The hotel has been virtually handed over to the New Zealanders for the fortnight. Its entrances have been specially decorated with Maori-carved archways, some of which are 14 feet high, and Maori motif drapes will add to the New Zealand atomsphere. Dominating the main convention hall will be a 30ft wide by 9ft high illuminated backdrop of Wellington harbour.

The hotel will be open to Australians to view the New Zealand exhibits, and travel agents will be in attendance to advise on tours of New Zealand. “More than 300 electrical retailers are expected to attend the convention,” said Mr Harding. “The trade discus-

sions will naturally concentrate on retailing problems and will range over a wide variety of subjects. Papers will be presented by prominent speakers from both sides of the Tasman, and the interchange of experience will benefit Australians and New Zealanders alike.” The convention entertainments include a full-scale traditional hangi prepared by the Te Pataka Group and a New Zealand banquet at which only New Zealand foods and wines will be served. Permission was immediately granted for the hangi pit to be dug in the hotel’s ornamental lawn.