NOTES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17394, 3 March 1922, Page 4

NOTES.

The announcement made recently that the local Motor Traders' Association contemplates holding a . hill-climbing contest has aroused the interest of tboso engaged in the trade. Nothing definite has yet been decided, upon in this connexion by the Association, but the question will he discussed at the next meeting on Monday week.

\nother instance of the manner in which road transport is entering mto keen competition with the railways comes from-the South. .A well-known forwarding company has placed two trucks on the road—one a motor and the other a eteam truck—to maintain a daily service between 3>unedm and Oamaru. It bos been proved that.consignments of petrol can be transported nmch more cheaply by this means than by rail, and the goods earned suffer less in transit.

"William Wrigley, jun v baseball magnate and chewing-gum king, was one ot tho observant visitors at the National Automobile Show, New York. For three years he has been a director", of the Auburn Automobile. Company, taking a keen interest in the expansion of that twenty-two-year-old company, lhe nev sport model—rakish low-Stung demon on wheels-is his pride, and some say certain attractive features originated ui the alert-brain of the owner of the Chicago Cubs.

"We are convinced of the desirability of the closed typo of motor car," stated the president ofan American manufacturing firm recently. "We believe that there is a hig demand for general utility closed cars, and that they must be used for touring work as well as for city and suburban use. Only.after three years of development, including building of a very extensive and highly modernised body building plant, are we in a position to offer to the publio closed; cars built entirely in our own plant.

"A,review of 1021 in the automobile industry," Edward S. Jordan, president of thevFordan Motor Car Company, said recently, "together with a Bound forecast for 1922, points out conclusively to me that the publio wants a oar of extremely long JiJe. Personally, my [ideal in a motor-car ia one that will! run 200,000 miles with proper, and, without losing so much of its originaf newness in appearance that the owner will be ashamed to drive it. In many •instances a car of this typo may pass from one to IjW,b, three, four, or; even five owners, "and wlher© the manufacturer has protected his future by adhering" to continuously conservative linea in Txx3y design, each, ownejr will derive that satisfaction and pride or ownership to which he is rightfully entitled." ■ - i ■

•■ • '<The saturation. bogey is '- with us again," said J. I. Handler, president of the Handley-Knight Company, Kalamazoo. Mich., in discussing trade prospects recently. '""Every time the autoihobilo business is a little slow, tlhe crop of saturation experts get out their figures and proceed to show how it is utterly impossible—yes, out of the question—far America to absorb any more; cars. These gentlemen ore Very earnest in their contention and it is a ahwne to disappoint them. Thei'fact is, tho saturation point never has been, and Inever •will be, reached. As long as there,are 110,000.000 people in the United States, and every family v ants a motor-car and this desire is intensified to sudh. an< oxtent that many families want aeveral cars, there will bo a waiting market for every motor-car built in whose maker the public has confidence."