BRITISH CARS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 107, 2 November 1926, Page 16

BRITISH CARS

MR. COATES CHALLENGED

SUITABILITY FOR DOMINION., /

(From Uur Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, 22nd September.

Last week, it appears, Mr. J. G. Coates made a speech in which he declaxed that it was not possible to buy a British-built motor-car in New Zealand suited to the requirements and conditions of the country. Mr. S. F. Edge, a motoring authority, has taken the matter up, and has written to, the "Daily Express" challenging the New Zealand Premier's statement. "Mr. Coates," writes Mr. Edge, "can get motor-cars of high-grade quality and suitable for any country, made in Great Britain, with clearance equal to any Ameri-' can motor-car. Mr. Coates suggested that American manufacturers supplied cais which were better suited to conditions in New Zealand, and other not yet fully developed lands where country road conditions are bad. Actually facts are against Mr. Coates. The A.C* motor-car, for whose manufacture Mr. Edge himself is responsible, the Armstrong Siddeley, the Sunbeam, the Bean, the Trojan, the Vauxhall —all these makes of motor-car have ground clearances fully as great as that of most Ameriean-made^maehmes. These .makes, and many other' British motor-cars, cater specially for Dominion trade, and defiign their models with an eye upon it. Nevertheless, the fact that Mr. Coates was ignorant of this state of. affairs shown how .faulty must be the publicity methods and general organisation of British manufacturers' who offer their vehicles to New "Zei land. AN EXCELLENT SIGN. ' "That the country's Prime Minister of all people, should not know what British firms are doing to supply the demands of his countrymen indicates that whatever methods are used to advertise British moj tor-cars in New Zealand are an utter fait I nre. Now price cuts by motor-car, manufacturers are being announced almoiit daily. This is an excellent sign of the vitality and initiative which possess the industry, even though it has gone through such a trying time since the beginning of 'May. . > • • : "Competition among the makers of lowpriced motor-cars is growing keener and keener. The advent of an American mo-tor-car which, despite the import duty; can compete with British machines on' then: awn terms; and which is designed expressly for the British market, has, quickened the British manufacturers' interest in .giving the bjest possible value for money. "This sort of competition is excellent. The benefit it brings to the motorist is too patent to need emphasis, but it also keeps the manufacturer himself from adopting the attitude of 'our motor-car is good enough as it is to earn us a profit, bo don't let us, worry to improve it.' This attitude, adopted I fear, only too frequently by some British manufacturers in the past, can only lead to stagnation, the falling off of sales, unemployment, and trade depression. Healthy vital competition leads along the road towards prosperity."