§ 72. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the President of the Board of Trade if there has been any increase in British exports in the Argentine since the holding of the British Industries Exhibition?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe domestic exports of a number of commodities registered as consigned from the United Kingdom to the Argentine Republic during the quarter ended the 30th June, 1931, showed an increase over the exports during the quarter ended the 31st March, 1931, and five items showed an increase in the June quarter of 1931 compared with the corresponding quarter of last year. The period which has elapsed since the exhibition was held is too short to enable any reliable conclusion to be drawn from the published trade figures.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODDoes the increase in exports to the Argentine do credit to the good that was done by that wonderful traveller for the Empire, the Prince of Wales?
§ 84. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if the British Industries Fair in the Argentine has resulted in a loss or a profit?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)The Committee responsible for the organisation of the recent British Empire Trade Exhibition at Buenos Ayres have informed the Department of Overseas Trade that the final accounts will not be available for some weeks yet, but that no loss is anticipated on the running of the exhibition, and that, should a loss eventuate, it would be trifling.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODHas the hon. Gentleman seen the statement made in the Carnegie Foundation, an American publication, that there is an estimated loss of £6,000,000 on this exhibition, which was organised to save British capitalism from tottering to its grave?