Christchurch Party May Visit Sydney Fair

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30823, 7 August 1965, Page 16

Christchurch Party May Visit Sydney Fair

Sixty members Of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association will attend the Third International Sydney Trade Fair. The Canterbury chamber is sending circulars to all its members with the object of organising a party of 30 or more and the manufacturers’ association is planning to send a similar party. The fair will begin on October 19 and run for 11 days. It is sponsored by the Sydney Chamber of Commerce.

The proposed visit of Christchurch businessmen is designed to promote good will and understanding between the Canterbury and Sydney chambers, as well as business. The Australian Trade Commissioner for the South Island (Mr M. B. Coultas) said that with the recent introduction of full-jet air services and with more scheduled for this year, the Canterbury and Sydney chambers were next-door neighbours.

The proposed visit of Christchurch business leaders to Sydney, he said, could pave the way for a return visit from members of the Sydney chamber. The Sydney fair, by itself. he said, would be well worthy of a visit by Christchurch businessmen. The fair would embrace such exhibitions as textiles, jewellery, toys, wines, electrical equipment, office equipment, motorvehicles and components, plastics, and heavy machinery.

“It will be one of the greatest exhibitions of industrial machinery and consumer products in the Southern Hemisphere,” said Mr Coultas. “There will be international participation by many countries, including Italy, Japan, China, Germany, India, and a dozen other nations.” Many senior members of the Canterbury chamber believed that the proposed visit would help to expedite the economic development of the South Island.

Inquiries were being made in the South Island to find a suitable group of about 20 Maori performers to participate in the “Pageant of Asia Spectacular” at the fair. Mr Coultas said that nine state government departments and agencies would combine in an impressive pavilion to boost the 1965 fair. The management would spend more than £250,000 to ensure the success of the fair. Organisations

servicing the fair would spend a further £250,000. Exhibitors were expected to spend at least £2.5m. One overseas exhibitor, said Mr Coultas, was flying out 70 technicians, managers, and sales representatives at a cost of £30,000. There would be at least 2000 such staff. The assistant secretary of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr I. D. Howell) yesterday said that the association’s members, as well as visiting the exhibition would be “looking into export promotion.” “Our members will be making visits to a number of Australian industries with which they are associated,” said Mr Howell.