The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Wednesday, July 1, 1970 — The Government should contribute a third of Trade Fair Rhodesia’s present annual budget, the Executive Officer of the Association of Rhodesian Industries, Mr J C Graylin, suggested here today.

He told the Advertising and Publicity Club the world had its eyes on Rhodesia.

“Every little setback — and the cessation of the Trade Fair would be considered a setback — spur our enemies on to greater effort against us.”

The main problem facing the Trade Fair at present was money. “It is chronically short of income”, said Mr Graylin. “It costs about $120 000 a tear to run the Trade Fair and the Agricultural Show — and the society’s income, in round figures is $120 000. So they just make ends meet.”

Mr Graylin said the Show Society lived “from hand to mouth” and in view of the falling attendance and fewer exhibitors, any further reduction of income would result in financial problems.

Exhibitors, he said, were less anxious to take part mainly because they considered they were not getting value for money.

To provide that value, the Trade Fair required a greater income and in this field the Government was in good position to provide a catalyst.

“As Rhodesia would be the loser if the Trade Fair were to foldup, the Government should be prepared to dig its hand more deeply into its pocket,” said Mr Graylin. “It would not be unreasonable for the Government to contribute a third of the total present annual budget of the Trade Fair – that is $40 000.”

Mr Graylin said that if the Government were prepared to put up this sum, “I am sure that it would give a fillip to industrialists and commercial people to do their bit as well”.