VAST, BUSTLING CROWD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 901, 19 February 1930, Page 9

VAST, BUSTLING CROWD

GREAT BRITISH FAIR AT OLYMPIA DINNER AT MANSION HOUSE British Official Wireless RUGBY, Tuesday. The London and Birmingham sections of the British Industries Fair were opened yesterday. Within half an hour, Olympia had become a vast, bustling market crowded with buyers who had come from ail parts of the world to view the products of more than 1,000 British manufacturers. The exhibit of the Empire Marketing Board occupied the place of honour in the main hall. Its section covers 10,000 square feet, and contains the chief food products and raw materials of the Dominions and colonies. Thousands of pounds’ worth of orders were placed this morning. A dinner in connection with the fair was given at the Mansion House last evening. The Duke of York and the ambassadors and ministers of 40 nations were present, also representatives of the Dominions. Mr. Arthur Henderson, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, presided. The Duke of York said it was better to work than to watch. He urged greater co-operation and attention to selling. The Government had appointed a committee, with Viscount Chelmsford as chairman, to consider an extension of the fair. Miss Margaret Bondfield, Minister of Labour, mentioned that this was the first time two women had attended the dinner, namely, Miss Iris Howard, Agent-General for Nova Scotia, and herself. Both were there by reason of their offices.

UNUSUAL OVERSIGHT

ROYAL PARTY IN EMPIRE SECTION QUEEN’S KEEN INTEREST Reed. 11 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. Through an unusual lapse on the part of the organisers, the Queen, Princess Mary, and the Duke of York almost missed seeing the portion of the British Industries Fair at Olympia, including- the Empire Marketing Board’s exhibition. In this was the most impressive display of the wealth and variety of the Empire’s products. The Queen was strikingly dressed in a purple coat and hat with grey shoes and gloves. Although the visit was of a semi-private nature, the public sensed the occasion and the Royal party frequently were held up by the crowds. The Empire Hall was the last reached and there was some uneasiness among the bodyguard, who conferred aside with Lord Passfield, who was obviously perturbed. The Queen, momentarily unattached, quietly asked her escort: “Where do we go next. I will go on.” The bodyguard hastened the party forward without mentioning the Empire displays. There was an immediate protest from Empire exhibitors and it is understood that when she was informed that the Empire Hail had been passed over, the Queen expressed a desire to revisit it, much to the delight of the exhibitors from the Dominions, and the spectators, who caustically criticised the oversight. The party first inspected the New Zealand section, mainly consisting of butter, lamb and honey. The Queen remarked: “What lovely butter. It is fine quality.” Her Majesty noticed carcases of lamb and recalled a visit to a Dunedin freezing works, saying: “It was then as cold as it is here today.”