The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Thursday, September 14, 1967 — The president of the Bulawayo Chamber of Industries, Mr HJ Goldsmith, said yesterday that his chamber was in favour of combining the Trade Fair and the Agricultural Show, even though it was appreciated there were some difficulties.

He said the chamber had discussed the question thoroughly.

It was appreciated that it was difficult for industry to engage in major exhibitions in the second half of the year because of Christmas trade commitments.

And it was realised there was a certain amount of difficulty in holding an agricultural show in AprilMay.

“But we feel that as Matabeleland is mainly interested in cattle, that would not matter a great deal. Cattle are usually in quite good condition after the summer.

Mr Goldsmith had some personal views on the Trade Fair. The international content of the fair was not very dominant, he said. Even before UDI there were only half a dozen international exhibits.

As long as Bulawayo lacked accommodation for non-white visitors or buyers the fair would have great difficulty in getting international buyers.

Salisbury had two hotels which catered for all comers. Bulawayo had none.

Rhodesia’s national transport carriers, Rhodesia Railways and CAA had not advertised on a world scale fares or tours coinciding with the Trade Fair.

This type of publicity would be costly, but it was fundamental to the setting up of an international trade fair, he believed.

In the meantime, both functions needed bigger crowds than they were attracting. United, they might achieve the gate they needed.

Opinion on the issue is divided among merchants, farmers and industrialists in Bulawayo and District. Some farmers believe the agricultural show is dead — killed by the Trade Fair. They say the two must be combined to give the public an improved function while saving the show.