GREAT BRITAIN AT BRUSSELS.

Otago Witness, Volume 06, Issue 2899, 6 October 1909, Page 12

GREAT BRITAIN AT BRUSSELS.

A UNIQUE EXHIBITION NEXT YEAR, AND A NEW DEPARTURE.

a, ' The Empire as a commercial whole i« i interested with the Mother Country in a . reform to be carried out aext year with 3 some eclat at the Brussels Internationa! t Exhibition. Unique importance will att tach to the British section there. For f the first time what may properly be called j a representative nairtmak exhibit is to be t officially attempted ; end it should be noted 5 that the organisation which has been 3 created for this purpose is at the service 3 of all the colonies and of India for purT , poses of information and negotiation cont ' nected with future exhibitions. s ; The British Section is being organised , on novel- lines. Exhibitors are no longer I [ dependent on a voluntary committee or [ left to install their goods as best they can ; or required to defray the cost of a general scheme of decoration, or engaged as exhibitors have always hitherto been, in a speculation the cost of which they cannot . ascertain beforehand." The section is in charge of a new department of the Beard , of Trade, acting in personal touch with them, and taking responsibility for these matters. French, German, and other exhibitors have long been assisted in systematic ways. Our own were at a disadvantage everywhere. But the new organisation under- ■ takes to do more than is cone for tl.o exhibitors of any other country. 'THE LION'S SHARE." The mo3t prominent position in the Exhibition grounds at Brussels, next to that of Belgium itself, has been secured for' tho general section. Visitors will pass through' the British galleries to reach those of the united States, France,- Italy, and other nations. In the Machinery Hall the portion allotted to Great Britain, occupying tho centre, is more than one-third of" the whole floor space; and there will be an unprecedented and very remarkable show of machinery in motion. At Brussels, therefore, a new era in British exhibiting will be opened. This comes as the result of a departmental inquiry, made by a Beard of Trade committee presided over by Sir Alfred Bateman. Taking the opinion of a large number of important manufacturers, the committee found a strong and growing prejudice against exhibitions on the old lines, and came to the conclusion that it was largely justified. But, as it would have j boon ruinous for Great Britain to abstain j \ a.ona fiom a form of advertisement which is now abolished, they recommended effective means of meeting the gi ievances of .British exhibitors. The Exhibitions De partment of the beard is the chief outcome. Instead of every exhibition being treated as a new prob'em of organi-af ion— a problem more or k-ss hastily and badly solved — this department now r-ons.titutes a i permanent machinery for tho care of I Bntish interests in such matters. . EXHIBITING SIMPLIFIED. To enumerate the facilities which it, offers to exhibitors is ro realise that a principal aim of the Exhibitions Dopnrtm<*:il has been to simplify the business of <>\liibitinjr. These facilities are such 4 hat nn exhibitor may know, to a penny, what his \ cut mo v. ill ccst him. | in the cay; of mnchinorv, tlie only , charge mado within tho Exhibition its<<lf is a low charge for space, oral phliiiiiilom uro obtained from Belgian con tractors for the installation of machinery. This cliurgo for space covers the provision of showcase!?, I the ccst of tho general cWumtive schemo, I the handling of exhibitors' goods, tho publication of a catalogue in French and English, and some other benefits. "Handling" , means that officials of the commission will i take delivery of packages at the Exhibition entrance, unload and place them on • the space allotted, take away, store, and return the packing cases, and re-load at the close of the Exhibition. Further, the commission will provide free of cost, as far as possible, an adequate supply of unskilled | labour to assist exhibitors with the installation of their goods. A UNIFORM SCHEME OF DECORATION. There is a very striking novelty in the internal architectural design of this British section. The character of the design is not such ac one associates with exhibitions in general. It has dignity and elegance. In harmony with the section's importance, it will give the British exhibit a conspicuous value for the most casual eye. The provision of showcases in uniform style is part of the conceotion. It will .

not deprive exhibits of individual characTer. Exhibitors are not even required to ' use these cases, or any cases. If they desire to provide their own, there will be i every disposition to meet them in the matter, so long as their cases are not inimical to the national scheme. But .the I 'provided case 3 may be had in all sizes and for all positions, and they are dust-proof and extremely handsome, being made of seasoned mahogany selected under carelul inspection. Machinery involves, of course, the additional cost of foundations and shafting ; , but ( the laying of foundations by Belgian contractors will be superintended by a competent engineer, and hand-rails will be provided. Another provision is that of a suit© of rooms for exhibitors' agents. This is a new thing in exhibition practice. There will be a reference library and a staff of higi-class interpreters attached to the establishment; and it will bs furnished with .all the neoessary equipment for transaction of business, correspondence, and so forth. A NATIONAL MOVEMENT. „ His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has led the movement in favour of tbia effective new departure in, State assistance. He. is the president of , the Royal Coming sion appointed for this and two , following 1 .exhibitions, and in> a speech at Marlbprough. House he urged British .manufacturers, not to weigh the rrta'tter 'from the, "point of view cf their individual advantage.' 'but to treat it a? a patriotic- enterprise.' "The rommerciai prestige-' of -the Mother 'Country has suffered from tfife abstention iffjnahygreat firms from past exhibitions. The Ea.rr j ■of Lytton (c'lairman of the commission), -acd r Mr U. P. Wintour (directon- of •the ' 'new ' exhibition branch) have, therefore, held many meetings in the trading centres to overcome ; ndifrerence and to explain tho new facilities. ( They have met with very | gratifying success in some centres — e.g., i Bradford, Huddersfield, Nottingnam, Mac- i clesfield, and Galashields, — the staple indus- j tries of which manufacturing centres have j resolved to show collectively for the sake of more effective display. Committees or individuals have been appointed to choose the exhibits, and guarantee fur.ds have been raised. It is already evident that Brussels .vill be the principal holiday resort of Europe next summer, for the Exhibition is in all ways the most important held on the Continent eince that of Paris nine years ago.