EXHIBITION AND TRADE FAIR. Although the terms "fair" and "exhibition" (or "exposition" as it is called in America) are somewhat loosely used, it may be accepted that by the latter is meant the long period show accompanied by bands, amusement park, etc., while by the former term is meant the short-period trade show. What is now known as an exhibition is of compara tively recent date, while fairs (q.v.) have existed from time immemorial.
The precise starting-point of the present day exhibition is not very clearly defined. There was naturally a transition period, but it may fairly be stated that the great exhibition of 1851 held in Hyde park, London, marked a definite stage in the development of the latter-day type of international or national exhibitions. Particulars of some of the more important exhibitions are given in the table on opposite page.
The increasing frequency of exhibitions during the latter half of the 19th century, and the heavy burden which was entailed both upon the governments participating and on the individual exhibitors, pointed urgently to the need for some measure of inter national agreement for their limitation and control. In several important countries national committees were set up, inaugurated in 1885 by the "Comite Francais des Expositions a 11tranger," which was formed to protect the interests of French exhibitors in foreign exhibitions. The committee was so successful that in 1901 it was officially recognized (reconnu d'utilite publique). In 1904 a similar committee was set up in Belgium, and subsequently others were formed in Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Austria, etc. On the invitation of the French committee, these various bodies formed themselves into an international federation for the advancement of their common interests.
In England, the task of organizing the national displays at exhibitions in which the Government participated officially had been entrusted to a body specially appointed for that purpose on each occasion, generally a royal commission. There were obvious disadvantages in this procedure, the most serious being that, owing to the complete lack of any continuity of organization, the expe rience gained at one exhibition was not readily available for the next.
In 1906 the British board of trade appointed a special com mittee to enquire into the nature and extent of the benefit accru ing to British arts, industries and trade from participation in great international exhibitions. The committee found that while there was a conflict of opinion as to the direct benefit accruing, such participation could not be discontinued. It constituted an adver tisement both for the individual exhibitors and for national trade in general. The chief argument in favour of participation was the necessity of keeping pace with foreign competitors. It was further remarked that political considerations were often a potent factor in determining participation.
Lack of continuous policy or system and of adequate machinery for determining the question of participation, had prevented proper preparation. The immediate result of this enquiry was the creation of a special British exhibitions department. (See INTER