AUSTRALIAN PUBLICITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN PUBLICITY

DELEGATION TO SCOTLAND* "AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS* CREATING DEMAND FOR PRODUCE Details of one of the greatest publicity campaigns which has ever benefited Australia were given yesterday by Mr. A. Gilchrist, manager of the delegation of 623 Australians of Scottish birth or dc- ~ scent which recently visited Scotland. Mr. Gilchrist is returning to Australia by the Niagara, accompanied by 118 members of the party. Mr. Gilchrist emphasised the point that the trip from every point of view had been an outstanding success. It had resulted in an increased demand for Australian goods in Great Britain, but he, personally, wished to take a larger outlook and to hope it had helped the cause of Imperialism. " Our members came from every part of Australia and provided a sample of the ordinary Australian public," Mr. Gilchrist said. "Tho ordinary man in the street does not think much of the British Empire. He is chiefly concerned with that particular part of it to which ho belongs. But I think we showed people ,in Groat Britain something of the meaning of Imperialism, and in so doing benefited not only Australia but also every part of the Empire." Taking Produce Into Homes. En routo from Plymouth to Scotland the delegation stayed in and tho members were entertained by the Duke and Duchess of York, who still retained pleasant memories of their tour of Australia and New Zealand.' Tiio most tangible object of the tour was to place Australian produce into tho homes of the Scottish people. It was not to encourage emigration to Australia. Scottish people were told the country districts in Australia were not yet ready to absorb immigrants, but that when Australian markets extended—and the Scottish people, could help to extend them—then ' Australia could take more young men and give them ample opportunities in life. This point was driven home in a variety of ways, and Mr. Gilchrist spoke to at least 20,000 school children during the trip. Shop-window displays of Australian produce were organised in every town the delegation visited, and tho Australian Government publicity office offered special prizes. These aroused so great an interest that grocers who had not previously stocked Australian produce obtained supplies and jvere now maintaining them in answer to a definite demand cerated by the mission. A Travelling Exhibition. Two special trains were used to convey the mission through Scotland and to each of these trains a special luggage van was attached, fitted up as a travelling exhibition. Over 250,000 people passed through these cars in Scotland, inspecting the exhibits of Australian produce and purchasing small samples.'" "One of the most effective things wa did was to take Australian produce actually into the homes of the Scottish people." Mr. Gilchrist continued. "Members of the delegation visiting Scottish families, were given sample boxes of Australian products, containing small quantities of dried and preserved fruits, fresh fruit, butter, cheese and wine. These boxes were taken into 3000 different" homes, and from every one came an undertaking to demand Australian goods in the future. And all this was done at practically no cost to the Commonwealth Government." Mr. Gilchrist said the tour concluded j at Inverness and the party returned by devious routes. Those who had returned with him through Canada had had a most enjoyable trip. They visited the Toronto Exhibition, and Mr. Gilchrist paid a tribute to the New Zealand court, which was decidedly creditable and in striking contrast to the poor showing made by Australia. 1 - Mr. Gilchrist said he was endeavouring to arrange future tours of Canada and the United States and he would lika to link New Zealand with these projects. He also hoped to arrange a tour of New Zealand by an" Australian delegation later OR. Last Saturday evening th« party on tho Niagara made a presentation to Mr. Gilchrist of a wallet of notes, generously filled, and a leather-bound illuminated address with the signature of every member.