COMPARISON OF SKILL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 11, 13 July 1931, Page 11

COMPARISON OF SKILL

A NEW ZEALAND^ENTRY

'An intoi esting study of labour skill of different nationalities being attempted shortly in New York is the first comparison of its kind to be made in the industrial field. Motor-cars seat from a dozen different countries will bo tho basis on which' craftsmanship will bo judged. The, car 'to represent New Zealand was selected on Saturday morning by a committee consisting of the Hon. P. A. tie la Perelle, Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. W. D. Hunt, managing director of Wright, Stephenson. and Co., Ltd., and Miv "W. M'Hardy Forman, managing director of General Motors Now Zealand, Limited. The car selected was a Chevrolet sedan, built at Petono, and containing many materials of New Zealand manufacture. In Now York a committee of prominent international motor-car, experts will judge it, along with, motor-cars built in a dozen other countries, and rale it in accordance with- an, international standard of quality,, a sot of specifications representing the ideal car. Mr. de la Porrellc, in making the selection, said ho was glad of the opportunity' afforded by General Motors of comparing New Zealand craftsmanship with that of other countries. He considered it fitting that tho craftsmanship of labour should at last bo recognised along with the tribute paid to the more generally recognised expressions of artistic skill. It was peculiarly; gratifying to know that the car in. question was built to a large degree from New Zealand materials, thus affording an opportunity for comparison not only of national labour skill, but of tho | products of New Zealand with those of other nationalities. ' ' „" , Tho car is being taken, to New York !by Mr. Fdrman, who is leaving on Tuesday for a business trip to England and the United States. Mr. Forman, who is an Englishman, has done much in his stay of three years to encourage the use of New Zealand materials in the manufacture of cars locally. He pioneered the use of New Zealand woollen fabrics for motor-ear upholstery, and under his direction a timber mill was established' at tho Petone factory so' that New Zealand native timbers could be used in tho construction of commercial bodies. Mr. Forman stated that tho car selected contained locally mado bumper bars and luggage carriers, locally woven upholstery fabrics, New Zealand' enamels, floor mats, and-other trimmings. However, tho range of materials available was not yet suilicicnt for all their needs, and they bought much from England and Australia. Ho was confident that the model he was taking with him would prove- that New Zealand1 goods and craftsmanship would compare more than 'favourably with those from other parts of the world. • ■ Mr. I'orman will be absent for some months. __^____^___