THE BRITISH_ INDUSTRIES FAIR [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Stn,--Critics of the Government's handling of the coal situation protest that too much attention is being directed to the production of coal as against the marketing of that commodity.
Whatever grounds there be for the charge in this particular instance, will you allow me, as one quite outside Government circles, to point out the fantastic inaccuracy of the accusa- tion, which is pleaded by many manufacturers in extenuation of their own lack of initiative, that the. British Government is unconcerned with finding markets for British goods ?
The truth is that the British Government has been first amongst the governments of all the world to spend money in Press advertising in this country and abroad with a view to increasing our trade, and it is through the Government's help that any British manufacturer can have his goods shown at the British Industries Fair next February for the ridiculously small sum of £25. Surely this is the cheapest proposition ever put up to any business man for getting orders all over the world ?
At last year's Fair there were thousands of foreign buyers alone. This year the. Government is making even greater efforts to attract buyers from all countries. If there be any British manufacturer who now refuses to meet this army of potential customers in February next, well, the sooner he stops grumbling about the lack of British trade the better.—
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