BRITISH CARS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 28

BRITISH CARS

THE EXPORT TRADE

QUESTION OF FREIGHTS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 10th October. In an article on trade and fiscal policy, "The Times" deals at some length with the motor export trade. "Certain individual manufacturers," says "-The Times," "have made notable efforts to push their products in foreign markets, but they have done so entirely on_ their own resources. The results have' been enough to show that in some of the 'undeveloped' countries there is a considerable market even for the present type of British car—some firms have already been progressive enough to produce a special type—and that market will no doubt expand with the gradual improvement of motoring conditions. "But meanwhile is there any insuperable reason why at least a number of British firms should not pool their resources and create an organisation for export, capable of supplying a less delicate typo of car or of promoting the sales of existing types? It cannot be pretended that even the most extensive rationalisation of the motor industry would ever produce a unit on the scale of some of our competitors whose home market is far more extensive. The annual output of cars in the United States, for example, is over1 twenty times as great as in this country, and one motor corparation last year made a net profit of £60,000,000, in spite of considerable losses in Australia and New Zealand-. But there is no doubt that the competitive power of the British industry could be immensely increased, particularly if the shipping companies could be induced to co-operate in the matter of freights. The Star Engineering Company .stated in a letter which we published a year ago that it cost

£45 less to New Zealand from Now York than from this country. Finally, it is unlikely that the dropping of the duty will seriously influence the generous attitude of Dominion Governments. The preference accorded under it is of small value to any Dominion, with the possible exception of Canada, and in her. case it is well known that Canadian motor-ear exports are very largely reexports from the United States." A PROTEST. In regard to the matter of shipping freights to New Zealand, representatives of the shipping companies forward a protest in the form of a letter to "The Times." This is signed by Mr. H. W. Corry, director, Commonwealth and Dominion Line, Limited; Mr. J. Macmillan, general manager, director, etc., Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, Limited; and Mr. Gr. Felix Harris, director, the New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited. The signatories ■say:— ' "We were somewhat • surprised to read in your loading article this morning, headed 'Trade and Fiscal Policy,.' that it is inferred the British shipping companies, trading with New Zealand, are not doing anything to co-operate in the matter of freight on motor-cars. "These Lines recently received a deputation from a .society of motor manufacturers and traders, as a result of which the freight to New Zealand has been reduced by 10s per ton of 40 cubic feet. We agree that there was considerable difference. in freight rates at the time the Star Engineering Company's letter was written a year ag&, owing to a freight war ia the American trade, but not to the extent they indicated. The position now is entirely different. "While the rates from America have increased, the rates from the United Kingdom have decreased, so that at present the difference in cost of shipping a typical large car from the united Kingdom or America to New Zealand would be about £o, and not t45, winch you quote. We should be giad if you would correct the totally erroneous impression which your leading article is likely to leave in the minds of your readers." According, to an analysis made by ~a | OCI, ety o£. Motor . Manufacturers ?S d Q ders Of Londoa for the year 1928 over 65 per cent, of all cars 'ef'e^ ln Great Britain are less 9fi? rSe"P°Wer- ■■°*-"H the cars in use 26' per cent, have 12 hp engines, the next largest class being the 14 h.p. cars, which constitute 12 6 tier cent. of. the total number. Nearly 2 per cent, of all cars are seven* h p