Really,’ Says John
pp. 35-37 · Read in the full issue
A Bit Dull, Really,’ Says John Carter, In Suva
It was all a bit dull really. As a owcase for Australian goods the letholm” exhibition was adequate i d nothing more. It lacked the \aginative touches that would have ven it more appeal.
'HE only real excitement came on • the ship’s last night in port at iva when she was closed early be use of what was described as an nsavoury local element”, which got it of hand and began pilfering and maging stands.
It was said somewhere that the ip’s converted holds were air-con ;ioned. If that was so then the air nditioning didn’t seem to work be use the heat in the exhibition halls is stifling. And those nasty jagged ges on part of the stairs could have /en someone a bad gash on the hand.
Opinions differ as to the success of 5 mission.
Mr. A. P. Whitington, mission ider, declared: “We are well satisfied it the mission has achieved the jects we set out to attain.”
But the comment from a Suva busi ssman, which was echoed by many ier people, was: “Generally I found i mission disappointing.”
He spoke of stalls with no attend ts, difficulty in getting information d said there were very few leaflets ailable.
The feeling among most Suva busi ss people is that the Sletholm visit is a let-down after the Australian
fade fair held at Suva in 1963. It was inti-climax. [ But that wasn’t the view in Lautoka, vhere local people hadn’t seen a previ ms exhibition and were impressed. >erhaps Suva is getting a little blase.
Mr. G. D. Smith, Australian trade iorrespondent in Fiji, pointed out that nost of the company representatives yere delighted with the results in Fiji.
Replying to criticism that much of he exhibition contained exhibits imilar to those already seen in Fiji it the 1963 exhibition, Mr. Smith aid that with the exception of a few xhibitors, who did well, the majority if them were showing products which irere new to Fiji.
There were, of course, limits to the xhibition because it was held on a hip, he said. But a ship had been used iccause the mission wanted to cover ;s much territory as possible as quickly is possible.
Anyhow, the Sletholm venture was tertainly enterprising, and for that the irganisers deserve credit.