THE "BRITISH AUSTIN" AND THE AMERICAN DODGE.

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 142, 18 June 1919, Page 13

THE "BRITISH AUSTIN" AND THE AMERICAN DODGE.

Walter Turner, Ltd.'s, Popular Agencies. Messrs. Walter Tua-ner, Ltd., the well- j known motor agents and garage proprieiors, of Queen-street, Palraerston North, are unable to be present at this year's Winter Show, .owing to the fact that shipping is still a negligible quantity, and the motors that do come to ,the company's order are usually sold long before landing. Four Dodge Brothers' cars will reach here in a week's time, and no less than three of these have already been booked, and are"l anxiously awaited by their owners. This company have 'been appointed importing agents far the famous Austin Motor-cars, made by Austin Motors, Ltd., of Northfield, England, and motorists generally will be glad to known that deliveries will commence at^ the works in three months' trine, and that ord-ers are now being taken, and deliveries arranged in rotation. For the present the Austin Company we concentrating, on the one model of Touring Chassis, viz., 20 h.p. (with four speeds forward), to which they will fit ii variety of bodies, including standard model four-seater with the hood folding- inside the body panels, Colonial model five-seater with one-man hood, in addition to which, there will be roadsters (two-seaters), coupes, and hndaulet. All these vehicles will be equipped with the ;hes& types of electric starter and lighting s«ts, detachable wheels (including two extra wheels), wind screen, lamps, etc; The tool outfit includes a light set for use on tour, and a heavier set for the owner-'s garage use. The spare wheels are. carried in a locker under the body, which method adds to the clean appearance of the machine, ajid leaves the four doors clear of obstruction. The bodywork is what is known as streamline design, and is finished in choice of three colours, grey, groen, or blue. The front seats can b,e adjusted in regard to distance from the pedals and the pitch of the oushions. There air© a great many other distinctive and attractive details on both chassis and body which cannot be enumerated here. The Austin Company's productions are favourably known in this locality, and it has long been common knowledge that this progressive concern, would be among the earliest to enter the colonial markets with a very attractive post-war programme. The company was among those English factories whose entire plant was placed under Government control very soon after the outbreak of war, as a consequence of which the whole of their export business ceased, entailing a great loss. It has, however, been a fortunate matter for the Austin Company that works extensions required during the war period were made with a view to having larger manufacturing facilities after the war which would be suitable for and immediately available for the output of cars. In. "1916, the Austin staff numbered 5000; in 1919' it was 22,300. The power plant increased 733 per cent. The gas-pro-ducer plant consumes 7,500,000 cubic feet each week. One hundred and seventyfive acres of land. are in use, with railway on both sides. Three miles of tram lines inside the buildings. A fivefigure wages cheque each week, two hundred tons of cement used each week on works extension. Forty miles of steam and water pipes laid within the works. Three thousand tons of raw material used each week. Four miles of 3£ inch bar steel cut up weekly. Fifty thousand square feet of ash, oak, and pine were cut up weekly. Nearly one hundred and fifty tons of turnings and fillings are gathered weekly, sufficient to fill ninety railway trucks. In proof of this the Austin Company in three months have written four million pounds worth, of orders, and on which they have received deposits. At the Austin works the employees are exceptionally well cared for. All members of'the staff, 18 and under, receive six hours per week free technical education in a special department at the works, which requires the entire energies of a staff of sixteen technical expert teachers. Five separate ambulance dressing stations are installed, each with a certificated nurse in charge. There are ten dining-roomsl, in which 30,000 meals are daily supplied. There is a large and up-to-date kinemo theatre, billiard-rooms, works ljand. On an estate adjoining the factory property Sir Herbert Austin is dealing With the housing problem by making a model village. Sir Herbert Austin's popularity' and ability are acknowledged by all classes in his district in the fact of his recent election to the House of Commons by an overwhelming majority. Sir Herbert Austin's title was given him in recognition of his services to the Empire during the war period. Among a most interesting series of photos forwarded by the Austin Company to Messrs. Walter Turner, Ltd., is that of an aeroplane (War Office type S.E.V.), which, with its accompanying workshop on wheels and the three-ton lorry for the conveyance of the plane, were all tho product of the Austin Company. Included in the equipment is an automatic quickfiring gun, which is designed to fire 80 shots a*minute. between the revolving blades of the propeller, the timing of the gun being synchronised with and driven from the timing of tho aero-en-gine. There can be no doubt that all the productions of the Austin Company will always command respect on our markets on account not only of their quality, but also on account of the sympathy that is due to such English manufacturers who were forced to leave overseas markets to their competitors whilst they.helped win the war. We congratulate Messrs. Walter Turner, Ltd., on securing the agency for such a progressive and well-known firm.