FOARD OF TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1928, Page 4

FOARD OF TRADE

MARCH STATISTICS. LONDON. April LL The Board of Trade figures for March •how that imports decreased hy £2.939,000, exports increased hy £2.8-14,-900 and re-exports decreased by £196,300. The principal decreases were: IMPORTS.

Dutiable food and drink ... 1.200,000 Oil. seeds, etc 1.392.090 Iron and steel, and manufactures thereof 1.-128.000 EXPORTS. Coal 1.211.000 INCREASED IMPORTS. Crain and (lour 919.000 Ran anil wool 1,50d,000 INCREASED EXPORTS. .Machinery 078,000 Cotton yarns ami manufacture 809.000 Vehicles 1,181,020 BROKEN BR ACES CRICIS.

RACE WITH TIME. AYhat. is the conductor of a vast irchcslru to do if. at the nil ira l point of n concert before huge audience, his braces fall to function ?

This is the embarrassing problem tint faced Sir I homas Beet-ham. one if our most immaculately-dressed public performers, during his United Stales tour.

Sir Thomas, in Ibis instance, trusted to providence to avert his "downfall", Mid was not wholly disappointed. It was during his first appearance it Carnegie Hall. New A’ork. as gnestc inductor of llto Philharmonic Society, that the unfortunate contretemps occurred.

“It was at a fortissimo passage,” related a friend, “ and Sir 4 Itomas pm all of his wonted lire inLo his conducting.

•‘ln a line Inirst of harmony there was a sudden note of discord—a sharp t ipple of sound. The famous conductor's braces had hurst!

“Louder grew the music. More vigorous became Kir Thomas And more rapidly his trousers embarked on their downward course.

“What could ho do? He could not hesitate a moment. Both his hands were fully occupied. Heroically lit- carried on.

“And his bravery was rewarded. The tremendous finale, coming lo its suiit ((inclusion, drowned hy the applause of the vast and fashionable audience, enabled Sir Thomas to hobble from the platform, with his trouser leg entangled in the heel of his shoe”