The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1927. A TRADE DELEGATION.

Evening Star, Issue 19588, 21 June 1927, Page 6

The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1927. A TRADE DELEGATION.

Ai the various functions which the British motor delegation attended yesterday the great point stressed by Sir Archibald Boyd-Carpenter was tjio task with which Britain was faced in recreating industry after the war. The conditions under which this had to bo done were difficult in the extreme. Mon and money were needed, and both were scarce indeed. The skilled men had died in their thousands, and the country was overloaded with taxation. Social disturbances followed, and in the overseas dominions there have been critics who have criticised Britain for not showing the way in industry to other countries, particularly to one who has profited out of the war just as much as Britain has lost by it. When the facts are set out in bold relief, the unfairness of a critical attitude, where sympathy and support might have been shown instead, is not anything to be proud of. In very neat stylo Sir A. Boyd-Carpenter turned the Hank of the critics of the British motor industry. Ho did not deny that some of the criticism was justifiable, but ho pointed out that some of the critics who complained of the British car manufacturer being behind the times in respect of colonial needs were themselves very far behind the times, for they were criticising the product of some years ago, oblivious of what was being turned out to-day. This we believe to be true. But realisation of it has been slow to penetrate here, largely because the British home market was threatened -with invasion, and its preservation was the first interest of the British manufacturer. How successfully that has been accomplished is shown by the percentage figures of origin quoted by Sir A. Boyd-Carpen-ter. The redistribution of wealth which Mie war caused in Britain created a demand for cheap cars, staunch, durable, and economical, and these have been provided in thousands. It is, wo believe, a fallacy to imagine that a special type of car embodying those qualities is needed to suit conditions in a coum try such as this. Such details as efficient cooling for engines subjected to hard pulling on indirect gears because of rough and hilly roads, more ground clearance, and coincidence of the track of the wheels with the standard of horsed vehicles, do not confront a modern factory with any acute problems or disorganisation of its ordinary production. The criticism of British cars expressed at tho meeting of the Otago Motor Club and the British delegation touched on none of those points. What was chiefly emphasised was the need for provision of spare parts within a reasonable period, which should be a matter of hours rather than of days or weeks. Apart from this the uscVs of British cars expressed satisfaction with them, particularly in respect of that very vital consideration, the cost of running. As to the broader economic argument, Sir A. Boyd-Carpenter was on sure ground when he said it was a “startling and dangerous fact” that Mew Zealand, of whoso exports 87 per cent, go to Britain, was importing a diminishing quantity of British goods in proportion to her total imports. Britain wishes to strengthen her position, not at our expense, but with our help. Expansion of her overseas markets will enable her to reduce her oppressive taxation, and consequent lowered costs of production will conduce to a reduction in the cost of living.