PURPOSE OF FAIR “NOT OVERLOOKED”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 14

PURPOSE OF FAIR “NOT OVERLOOKED”

The time spent at the sideshow area of the Industries Fair was over to the individual patron and the original conception of the fair had not been overlooked, the director of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr R. T. Alston) said yesterday. He was replying to a correspondent, “Disgusted Parent.” who in a letter to the editor of “The Press,” wrote:— “The Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association is to be congratulated on producing Christchurch’s greatest advertising gimmick to date. The whole conception of the original purpose of this annual event has been completely overlooked. It used to be an opportunity for the industries | of our cities to display and demonstrate their wares to an interested public. Today the only people who are thus occupied are the sideshow employees. With high-pres-sure advertising on the local: commercial station offering colossal prizes and free gifts for the children, what could a poor parent do but succumb to their pleas? 1 very much doubt if the firms which displayed their wares gained any increase in the sale of their products. By the time the children were shepherded through the sideshows, there was very little time to appreciate the true purpose of the fair. Never have so many dollars been spent by so many people on so much of little value.” The association would not claim that its fair promotion was Christchurch’s greatest advertising gimmick, Mr Alston said, but the many working industrial exhibits, the fine weather, the excellent radio promotion and other advertising were major factors in bringing a record crowd to the fair.

“Regarding the time ‘Disgusted Parent’ spent at the sideshow area, this is entirely over to the individual fair patron. However, perhaps he should go to the fair a little earlier to ensure that he has ample time to view the exhibits,” Mr Alston said.

“If this is not possible, we will arrange with the editor of The Press’ for “Disgusted Parent’ to have a pass for a second day at next year’s fair,” he said. It was wrong to suggest that the whole conception of the fair had been completely overlooked, Mr Alston said. At this year’s fair there was a wide range of industrial exhibits, some of which were working while others emphasised export and the increasing co-operation between Australia and New Zealand.

“Obviously, after spending so much time at the sideshow area, ‘Disgusted Parent’ had little time to view and appreciate the significance of the displays arranged by industrial exhibitors, many of whom have already reserved space for next year,” Mr Alston said.