MOTOR BODY BUILDING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 35, 5 November 1928, Page 13

MOTOR BODY BUILDING

Sir. —In the motor section of your journal, you give a few facts regarding the motor body building industry in this country, and whilst you mention that the industry is not very flourishing, as it might well be, the figures you quote are apt to make the position appear much better than it actually is. Since tlie advent of the motor, the coaehbuilding trade has actually declined. From the figures given by you, it is seen that the average number of men employed in the coach building factories of this country is about nine per factory. It is doubtful if there is a score of factories employing more than twenty men. Tlie multiplicity of shops employing two or three men only shows what a poor condition the trade is in.

Of the value of the work turned out between 75 per cent', and 85 per cent, is represented by repairs and painting, and the new work done by reason of the importation of motor vehicles would not be of great assistance to the industry.

It is obvious, of course, that with the number of small factories, poorly equipped. that motor body builders cannot hope to do better, even should the demand for new bodies be increased. —I am, etc.,

BODY BUILDER.