EMPIRE’S MARKET PLACE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 January 1927, Page 13

EMPIRE’S MARKET PLACE.

LONDON CALLING “COME TO THE FAIR.” (By (lie Right Hon. the Lord Strathspey.) London and Birmingham, far from being, despondent as a result of recent industrial’ troubles, are looking iorwurd with considerable confidence to February 21, when there will bo opened simultaneously in tho two centres', for the period of a iortnight, tho finest and almost the largest Br.’tisli Industries Fair yet held. Tho Birmingham section at Castle (BromwieJi i hai : .added by JO per cent, to what was ‘already the biggest exhibition hall imthe country aim the London section at White City, Shepherds Bush, is also considerably enlarged though not yet largo enough to hold all the eager people who have someth.uig to show tlie world. For the first time the Dominions and Colonies are to be adequately represented as producers, and their presence has no doubt made British lnaimlacturers the more keen to bo there. The Fair in the past has been “ Britain’s Shop Window.” The “Empire's Market Place,” would be a more apt description now, tin; chief countries of the British Commonwealth being there as sellers and buyers too. The Empire foodstuffs are to he displayed in what will probably be the finest stand at White City. It has been designed by a famous architect and willl be decorated with the wonderful frieze by Maurice Greiffoiihagen which was seen in New Zealand exhibition last year, but is new to London. , In addition, some Empire manufactures are to be shown. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in London, for instance, has organised a display of the products of Canadian manufactures. The Castle Bromwich display, which is organised at tremendous cost by the. Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, is for the “heavy” industries and the products shown willl includve gas and oil engines, wire goods, electrical equipment for homo and factory, machine tools, cooking utensils, tiles, steel manufactures, art metal goods and hemp goods.

SHEFFIELD ENTERPRISE. In the Hardware Section, the Sheffield industries have for the first time taken space on any considerable scale, and among the most interesting exhibits will be turbin blades and boiler fittings in stainless steel, a new application ol stainless steel to maritime \ purposes which is regarded as one of the most notable developments iln Sheffield industry. In the Electrical Section will be practically overy firm of importance. “ r Lhe Perfect Boiler House” is to be a feature of the Power anti Engineering Section, this exhibit alone covering 15,000 square feet. It will show how the smoke nuisance can be dealt with In London there is to be a Clothing and Textile Section four time the size it was last February, and including a display by famous artificial silk manufactures, who rarely take part in any exhibition. The Chemical Industries, including members of the recent great “merger,” are. to show the big strides made, in the past year in both, heavy and fine chemicals. GERMAN SPORTS BOOM. British toys, in.which there is now an export trade of considerable dimensions, will occupy over 20,000 square feet, and the boom in sport all over the world, including Germany, which is stated by the British sports goods manufacturers, to be taking to games instead of . drill, will- be catered for by the greatest display of sports goods ever brought under one roof. . To review all 'sections iis impossible here, but I can at least say from mj own knowledge of the Dominions and Colonics, that their buyers are more likely to find what they want at the Fair this tiline than ever before, because the exhibitors are realising the need for inventiveness and adaptability. Tlie Department of Overseas Trade has made elaborate preparations foi giving personal help to buyers from overseas. iMy advice to principals ot businesses is to come themselves to the Fair and not leave it entirely to their representatives itn Britain.