THE MOTOR TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 75, 25 September 1941, Page 6

THE MOTOR TRADE

PROSPEROUS FUTURE

COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL

Prosperity in the future for the retail motor trade was forecast last night by speakers at the smoke! concert given in honour of Mr. J. F.. Cousins, who has retired from the position of general secretary of the New ZerJand Retail Motor Trade Association. Increased aviation transport was envisaged, and it was thought thai, after the first job of winning the war 'had been completed, the servicing of this transport would give work for the motor trade, and would provide jobs for the thousands of fully-qualified pilots who would return. Mr. C R. Edmond, the new general secretary, presided. Proposing the toast of JlThe Future," Mr. H. Alder (Auckland) "said that with the close affiliation of all the many branches of the retail trade, thei?e was no reason why the association should not thrive. The main job of the association should be the winning of the war. The trade had been called upon to make greater sacrifices than any other, but one of the main features of the business should be postwar reorganisation. Mr. L. R Montgomery (Nelson) said that the motor trade had supplied a large number of men for the Air Force. When these- young men came back it would be one of the big tasks of the motor trade to find jobs for them In many cases they would have the latest technical motor knowledge, which would be a benefit to them all their lives, but they would not be trained commercially, and the ; association should train them to take their place in the peace-time motor industry. It was an essential industry, and there should be room for them in it. Replying to the toast, Mr. Edmond said there was still much to do in the consolidation of their organisation. As had been stated the chief job was the winning of th*. war. "Let us accept our tasks in the spirit of sacrifice that is being shown by the younger generation today. If it means less profit, or some losses, it does not matter, provided that in the end we can say to ourselves that we have builded well., "Have you ever thought what the future is going to be in regard to aeroplane travel?" he went on. "When the war is over we will have thousands of young .men as trained pilots. and machines competent to. travel the world. When this war is over there will.be no travel by passenger liners. We will travel by air. ;It is the motor industry which will have the opportunity of servicing thes^ machines." Messrs. J. H. Ashtori. (New Plymouth), George Dash CWaimate), and C. E. Watts (Invercarjgill) proposing "The Past" and Mr. C^ousins's health, spoke of the many successful attempts to eliminate competition between various sections of the industry now united sin a harmonious wiiole, and Mr. Cousins replied. The toast of "The , New Zealand Motor Trade .Federation" was proposed by Mr. G. C. Seers, and responded to by Mr. A. B. Gibbons 4 The audience was pleasantly enter.--tamed with sleight of j hand, songs, and a spectacular presentation of Hitler singing "Bring Back; My Hessie to Me." ' ' Messrs. G. L. Laurenson, Director of Transport, G. L. O'Halloran, of the Department of Industries and Commerce, and W. A. Sutherland, secretary of the Wellington Aiitomobile Associa-, tion, were guests of the association.