MOTORING MR. McHARDY FORMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 233, 2 October 1928, Page 16

MOTORING

MR. McHARDY FORMAN.

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ENGLISH MANAGING DIRECTOR.

GENERAL MOTORS, NEW ZEALAND, LIMITED. . Mr. McHardy Forman, who took over the position of managing director of General' Motors (N.Z.), Ltd., yesterday succeeded Mr. Walter E. Hill, is an Englishman who, for waa distributor of General M0t0r3,.-products in Southampton; • Mr. Forman, on relinquishing control of his owii business, became general sales manager of General Motors, Ltd., London, and also a' member of .the . board of directors of that company, which produces General Motors cars ahd trucks for sale in England. To a large degree the merchandising of such cars as Vaqxhall, built in Luton, Bedfordshire, has been successful in the ■ British Dominions,' due' to Mr. Forman's knowledge of conditions and markets in the British : Empire. This knowledge was secured first hand by Mr. Forman, who has .made three trips around the world, spending the majority of the time in the British colonies:

Since August, Mr. Forman, who has been assistant managing director of General Motors (X.Z.), Ltd., has been devoting his time to a, study of the possibilities of increasing the.New Zealand content in. the cars which are produced by General Motors (N.Z.), Ltd. Mr. Forman expresses his opinion of the possibilities of using more and more New Zealand timber, enamel, trim materials, and supplies in the assembly of General Motors cars at Petone:— "At the present time 61 per cent of the price of Chevrolet cars produced m Sew Zealand remains in tills Dominion, and similarly large percentages of the price of other General Motors cars produced here. It is my desire to increase this, percentage still further by the use of other locally produced material. Just this week we placed orders, for New Zealand grown and' woven woollen material for upholstery, and for New Zealand rairo timber for body building. "Three years ago I spent considerable time in New Zealand. I went over both Islands entirely oy ear, and at that time I was struck with the Dominion's amazing possibilities. It is my earnest desire to see that more and more local material is used in the building of our products. - : I can «ee no reason why the present percentage should not be doubled. General Motors (N.Z.), Ltd., is a New Zealand company; our sales force is 100 per cent British, and three New Zealanders are holding high executive positions. This company wants to see as many New jZealanders benefit by its operations here as possible. I believe that General Motors deserves praise for its policy of placing Britishers in control of their factories in the Empire in the earnest desire to make the personnel I'M) per cent" local."

INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS' TRIAL WON BY B.S.A.

Cable advice has been received by Mr. C. E. Blaynpy, of Wellington, 'announcing the success at the recent trials held in England of B.S.A. motor-cycles. After six days' trial over a .difficult course, the seven B.S.A. machines secured seven gold medals, also the team prize, in the 350 c.c. class.

IN CASE OF ACCIDENT.

SOUTH ROAD RESIDENT'S GENEROSITY. OFFERS SERVICE IN FIRST-AID. Mr: W. H. Light foot, of Penrose, Great South Road, called on "Sparkwell" today and offered- his services, to motorists who meet with an accident anywhere in the vicinity of his home, at the corner of Great South Road and Penrose Road. Mr. Lightfoot is a retired army field ambulance man and has already been most useful in several accidents which have occurred on that sparsely settled three-mile stretch of country from Penrose railway bridge to Otahuhu. Motorists who may be unfortunate enough to require first-aid will be relieved tb know that they can obtain gratuitous and expert first-aid from Mr. Lightfoot.

In some parts of America motor cycle policemen carry electric light bulbs for sale, and when they stop a car with no lights they offer to sell the driver the necessary bulbs.

LIGHTING-UP TIME.

To-day . 6,52 pjni. Wednesday 6.26 p.jn. Thursday 6.27 pjn. Friday 6.28 pjn. Saturday ......... 6.29 pjn. Sunday .... 6.29 pjn. Monday 6.30 p.m.

DORMANT REGISTRATION.

29.708 N.Z. LICENSES LAPSE.

BIG MARKET FOR REPLACEMENT.

Of the 17(5,607 motor vehicles registered in New Zealand up to the beginning of August, nearly 30,000 are not in service, . and . the Dominion's fleet consists therefore of about 147,000 vehicles with current licenses. The registration of a car, commercial motor, or motor cycle, is kept on record for the life of the vehicle, and it is thus possible at annual licensing periods to ascertain the number of cars for which new number plates are not. taken out. These unlicensed vehicles include many thousands standing in used car garages, while a large number have been condemned by their owners for all time. In 6ome cases the cars have been broken up or destroyed, and the owners have failed to report their elimination. This number is small since there is yet no systematic "junking" in New Zealand, and the abandoned car, minus a few useiul parts, i 6 generally left in some neglected corner.

At the beginning of August, 1925, a few months after the inauguration of the licensing system, there were 110,16p motor vehicles on the register. Three years later, on August 1, 1928, the total was 176,607, an increase of 66,447. During the same period, however, 29,703 vehicles passed out of service and these registrations are dormant. The actual increase in vehicles on the road in the three years is therefore, 36,744. In the future it will be possible to arrive at some conclusion regarding the average life of a motor vehicle ift New Zealand as disclosed by' the fate of those motors for which the licenses will never be renewed. After allowing for resurrections, it appears that at least 10,000 vehicles -are passing out of service annually, In this atone there is assurance of a substantial replacement market.

A.A.A. ACTIVITIES.

Mr. H. Butcher, member of the council, aiid Mr. Roy ChamptaloUp, touring manager, leave to-dav for Waihi, and will address a meeting of motorists in the Schoo| of Mines Hall and later appoint an agent for the district. A visit will also be paid to Katikati to inspect the camping ground and hot springs whiclit are adjacent to the area on the hillside secured by the Katikati Domain Board for a motor camping ground. Eviery convenience will be installed and the hot springs should be an added attraction for motorists to made a halt here when on their way to or front Tauranga on the East Coast district. , The sign posting patrol left to-day for' Taiipo, Napier, Gisborne, Opotiki - and the Bay of Plenty to complete their work in these districts. „ fht sports committee report that the speedway at Mangere should he finished by the end of the jar, and- it is proposed to hold a race meeting on it early in. February. This will take the place of the usual meet on -Muriwai Beach. Some members of the motor. trade* ire ♦ftifiwg steps to prevent the. racing at Muriwai falling through after the success of the past six. years, and it is possible that races will be held on the beach some time in February. The fixture will follow jost after the Mangere speedway meeting to enable visitors from the. South Island and Australia to ctompete •thoihwith as little lost time as.ppsf -