THE PLACE OF THE CAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1925, Page 18 (Supplement)

THE PLACE OF THE CAR.

USE RAPIDLY EXTENDING.. A NECESSITY NOW. TO BUSINESS MAN AXD EAEMEK. A comparatively.short time ago . the motor car was generally looked upon as a luxury, and in America, -where for many years past there his been a greater number of motors per head of population than in any other part of the world, there were those who thought that the saturation point had almost been reached and that over-production would soon take place in the States. To-day in America the motor is looked upon as a necessity, and although more than three and a half million cars were produced in that country last year these were all sold, and the saturation point was even then not nearly reached.

"'' * Here, in New Zealand, the position imi is much the same as in most other pro|MK gressive countries of the world. The ( use of the motor, in one form, or another, is being steadily extended. Its value *'' * for transportation purposes, whether of On goods or of people, is becoming more ■ i : i |. and more recognised, and it has alreadybecome a serious rival to the horse, to the railway, and to the tram car. " '• Numbers of people who, a few. years 11 ago, were of the opinion that they could ■i, M not afford to own a motor car, now ( realise that they cannot afford to be without one, so valuable has it become ■'' * to them in their daily business. There (Mi are a great number, too, who have „,! ■ found that they have become not only wealthier since they became motor- - I>' \' owners, but healthier too, for they and RM H their families have made good use of the X car during th© week-ends, when it has ■' j j! not been in use for business purposes. __ir This dual use of the motor is strik- - n gly seen, too, in the case of the motor ■ sTj_l truck. Many an owner of such a vehicle has realised the value of change H rrj and fresh air, and one has only to travel JJ a few miles outside the city at week■U V ends to see the large number of motor _ _■ trucks and lorries that are being used -n Ek to give the families and friends of the j*l !l owners, and also perhaps the families j —. a friends of the owners' drivers —a \ * «•" trip into the country. "- r~ Since the war the prices of motor 4) flj' cars have been steadily dropping, whilst _n their quality has, at the same time, r. «l been gradually rising, so that to-day "Jj _ better value is obtainable in motors than ■fl H" ever before. For the would-be purchaser, ■{] f i too, matters have been made much easier, _n \. and thanks to the small cash-down sysjf JJ tern the man of limited capital is able «-» to become the possessor of a motor with- _ &■ out paying for it all at once, and having J_\ B. thus acquired it to immediately make Jt a, use of it as an up-to-date money earning o n and saving business accessory. ■j m The attitude of the average American j{ citizen towards the motor car is well ■*iT illustrated by the following story:— "J* &" Two young friends of a Boston lady fr' had become engaged and were shortly contemplating matrimony. The lady in question was discussing the matter with SnAs, them, and was most anxious to give them fk the benefit of her own experience. "Now," jl S said she, "there is one thing I want to S« particularly impress upon you. Rather tjl (t than buy a house and hire an autos* ft mobile, take my advice and rent your *| S house and buy an automobile. If you do this I am sure you will not regret Sj Ik it, as by so doing you will add greatly o J to your happiness and enjoyment of *l S life, as well as greatly improve your fc, health."

The car can be pressed into many services alien to its first intention. It is used sometimes for driving milking machines, chaff cutters, circular saws, and other machinery. Our illustration shows a car packed up, and -with one tyre removed, driving the " Star" linotypes during a temporary breakdown of the city's electric power.

straight road if you see somebody who may not be looking, but I do not believe that the sound of a hooter goes round the corner." In the result his lordship awarded plaintiff £600 damages with costs.