BRITISH MOTORS

Evening Star, Issue 19588, 21 June 1927, Page 11

BRITISH MOTORS

MERITS AND FAULTS DISCUSSED DELEGATES AT OTAGO MOTOR CLUB Members of the Otago Motor Club met last evening in tho club rooms to. receive the * visiting British delegates and discuss with them the merits and faults of tho British cars, more especially with regard to their suitability lor the New Zealand conditions. The visitors, Sir Aichibald Boyd-Carpenter, Lieutenant-colonel A. Hacking, and Mr Allan 11, Fenn, were warmly received by a large gathering Mr A. E. Ansel 1, who was_ in toe chair, mentioned that the-visit had been brought about at the instigation of the Hon. J. C 4. Coates and tbo Eriinc Minister of Australia, who, while attending tho Imperial Conference in London, had brought up the subject of British cars. The very fact that those gentlemen from tho Mother Country had deemed it advisable to come out hero to investigate justified Mr Coates’s criticism. Empire trade was a good thing. If we sent money to England it would increase the purchasing power of tho English public. Ho invited users of English cars to talk freolv on the subject, and bo game enough to tell the delegates something _ about tho article they were marketing. Sir Archibald Boyd-Carpenter said ho would bo only too glad to hear all the complaints and compliments which would bo forthcoming, as the delegates wero there to gain experience from the knowledge of others. Mr J. L. Passmore expressed the opinion that when a man bought a car he expected economy, reliability, and durability. Accessibility was also a _ big consideration. When a motorist lived in tho backblocks it was necessary for him to have some means of effecting repairs. Tho question of spare parts was an important one, and ra this respect Great Britain was behind other competitors. Ho suggested that British manufacturers should combine and crcir a headquarters, perhaps at Wellington, whoro all accessories could bo obtained. Some said that, the British car was

unsuitable for New Zealand requirements, but in many cases it turned out that there were motors as unsuitable for a car as tire car was for them. Ho was of the opinion that in the matter of expenses the British cars were cheaper than foreign ones. Mr .T. A. Roberts read from his diary some details of his motoring expenses. He owned a British car of 12 horsepower, and although ho had a. place at Micldlemarch, and often had to negotiate one of the worst hills in New Zealand, ho had never been held up. in two years he had had practically no repair expenses. However, Mr I'ass--01 ore had hit tho nail on the head when ho had spoken about spare parts Mr S. De Beer spoke of the American propaganda which was being pumped into this country. He pointed out that the British cars had a higher touring speed than those of America. Ho thought that tho motor invasion could be overcome by a massed collection of manufacturers. In tho matter of running expenses British cars were much cheaper than any others. • Mr V. S. Jacobs stated that at present he was using two British cars, and they gave him every satisfaction. Personally ho preferred tho seniihalloon tyres to the balloon tyres. Sir Archibald JBoyd-Carpcntcr said that ho was afraid lie could not claim nil tho attributes, such as an expert motor man, and a captain of industry, which had been handed out to him since his arrival in Dunedin, But in England ho had a constituency comprising some 69,000 electors,, who were interoited in the, motor industry, and many of these relied for their wellbeing on the results of that industry. It was his humble duty to try and remove the misapprehensions of those who were so critical of the British car. Nobody could realise tho industrial agony which had assailed tho British manufacturer before, during, and after tho war. Even when the factories wore Ix-imi transformed after the war, other competitors still held the field. The tei munition of tho war could not be judged as the turning point, for, during tho subsequent year, they were not able to take tho held owing to all the strikes that took place. in tho turning out of cars service was a big factor. Finance was another. Au enormous service had been built up by financial countries. In the, stringency which had been the lot or the British manufacturers it had not been possible to draw on these enormous reserves, and a quick ami ample turnout, the pregnant part ol all difficulties concerning British cars, bad not boon feasible. He could not raphasiso too delicately that Britain ■ad had to bear a burden intolerable i itself. Every man, woman, ami tiki in England, was burdened with ■ixation and with a huge debt. In mcrica thov had been able to reduce ’xation and overhead charges. Yofc. in spite of all those difficulties Britain had managed to reduce the "nst of liviug, and in ycars_ to come ilio need for increased taxation would cease. Some critics said that_ Britain did not produce tho articles which were wanted. Another aspect which brought down criticism, perhaps justifiable, ou •heir heads was that tho British manufacturer did not turn out an article in which pride of workmanship did not fake fits place. Should he conic off ,iis perch? Tho people who bought those articles always paid tribute to the work. Reputation meant more than immediate gain: it would not be good for British trade to he out and down for the sake of temporary gain. Tho Mother Land and New Zealand were not building for a day, but for a future. Nations and peoples had fallen, and all those questions had to bo considered, so that, through all trials and troubles, they would emerge producing articles which would meet with the approval of. the world. A still bigger factor was that the permanent good of the' Empire could be maintained only by healthy and happy units. Otherwise tho death knell of progress and steadfastness would be' sounded, and the British Empire would be disintegrated into fragments. Then, again, they should nob sit upon a wall .waiting for a market. Willing purchaser's bad to be found—there were many who were always willing to sell. Eighty-seven per cent, of New Zealand’s products went to Britain. Britain always . wanted tho host, and she was also determined to have New Zealand products. Thcro was no division between sentiment and good business. In this matter honesty, sentiment, and good business went together. The day was approaching when things might become acute, and if anything' hindered export and import there would be a disaster to both sides. They had fought for an Empire which had grown from tho necessities of the people, and nut because of tho ambitious of military leaders, and they should appreciate tho fact by consolidating their nositiou. lie felt sure that iu the ripeness of time u complete understanding between the Mother Land and her •’liildreu would result. ( Applause.) Mr Allan R. Fcnn, the technical advisor of the party, said that there was a great deal of confused thinking in regard "to various types of cars, and the question _ of what category _ of oar ■va-s needed in the several districts, lidiculo of the light car and the baby car was frequently heard, but the market for those cars would grow as tho toads improved. When motorists came to consider the larger car, they should turn their attention to the British market. When tho British manufacturer fully understood the conditions «n New Zealand he would cater for its market. Most of the criticism had been based on the cars which were being turned out four or live years ago. Tho question of service would

receive every attention when tho delegation returned to Britain. Lieutenant-colonel A. Hacking pointed out, in regard to spare parts, that duo attention was now being given in Great Briain to the standardisation of parts. fA great deal of propaganda, or ratliqr counter-propa-ganda, work was going oil, and no less than £1,000.000 was being spent on this work. In tne past they had been backward in displaying their goods in shop Windows, All these-troubles would be remedied on the delegation’s return to Great Britain. Ho congratulated the Otago Motor Club on tho great work it had occomclished in sign-posting the roads, and said that in this respect Great Britain had a great deal to learn from Now Zealand. (Applause.) Mr Ausell stated that the members of the club wore greatly indebted to the delegation for the high standard they had set in Imperial affairs. The visitors were much impressed by the beautiful country of New Zealand, and bo might add that Sir Archibald BoydCarpenter contemplated returning next year with his wife and family for a good holiday. The meeting closed with'three hearty cheers for tho visitors.