MOTOR TRUCKS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 127, 2 June 1927, Page 5

MOTOR TRUCKS

BRITISH PROGRESS Interesting developments in tho British heavy truck motor trade were outlined by Mr. Henry Spurrier, managing director of Leyland Motors, Ltd., who is in Wellington, just commencing a tour of New Zealand to make a personal investigation of Dominion needs and conditions. "There is no doubt that the English manufacturer is overhauling the American manufacturer in the provision of the best form of heavy motor truck. Britain is even taking the- Canadian market from the United States, in the matter of heavy trucks, and that is next door." During his trip through New Zealand, Mr. Spurrier will look into back-country conditions, and will incorporate what he learns in the designs of heavy trucks. It was interesting to learn that some improvements in springing and other details incorporated into British trucks to meet Dominion conditions some four years ago had since been generally adopted as equally useful and satisfactory in England. A six-wheeled truck with an adjustable four-wheel drive, capable by means of a special low gear of getting over almost any kind of country, would shortly make its appearance in New Zealand. For sandy, muddy, and soft ground it should be an improvement on anything previously seen here, and for steep grades it. could tackle lin 3J. The idea of the makers was to provide a truck that would be of use on any sort of track at all. Mr. Spurrier was of opinion that the British motor delegation now in Australia and due in New Zealand shortly, would do a tremendous amount of good in turning purchasers towards British manufacturers. They had plenty of reasons to advance for that course, and their leader, Sir Archibald Boyd-Carpen-ter, was an excellent speaker %ith an exhaustive knowledge of motor matters.