BOOST FOR BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 14

BOOST FOR BRITAIN

COTTON EXHIBITION

DISTRESS IN ENGLAND

Keen interest was displayed in the opening of the British Cotton Exhibition at James Smith's Corner yesterday aftct-iiooji, when the interior of the large showrooms on the ground floor was tastefully arranged" with purely British cotton exhibits, showing the wide variety in the quality,'colour, and texture of the fabric.

The exhibition was opened by Mr. L. A. Paish, H.M. Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, who was introduced by Mr. A. P. Smith, managing director of Messrs. James Smith, Limited. Mr. Smith said that in addition to the object of stimulating business generally, it was desired to arouse greater interest in British manufactures, particularly cotton goods, for which there was no more satisfactory source in the world than Great Britain.

Mr. Paish said he at fijfst thought there might have been art element of danger in holding a cotton goods exhibition in n country, but these two lines, while being to some extent competitive, were really supplementary one to another.

The Trade Commissioner outlined the ramifications of the cotton industry in the Old Country, and said it was on account of the fact that Britain was fighting for her life ou the markets of the world —for the most part unprotected —that she was enabled to keep the cost of her goods down and the quality up. Britain was losing her' lowgrade trade, but tho high-grado trade was going steadily upward. So long as this continued, the Old Country would win out in the long run.

Mr. Paish mentioned that 42 per cent, of the operatives in the British cotton industry were out of work, and by the stimulation of the demand for that commodity in this country, the people could assist in the alleviation of that distress.

The display commanded a great deal of attention during the afternoon and evening. __^_^_______