“BUY BRITISH CARS.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 April 1926, Page 4

“BUY BRITISH CARS.”

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —1 roared with laughter to-night when, in filling in my dfensuis papers, J came across the Government Staxasbioian’s little joke, wherein he compliments the people t of New Zealand on their “very high standard of general intelligence. ” Higjh standard of intelligence indeed ! When tins country, with a population of just over a million, is importing Yankee motor cars at the rate of over 60 a day .(or i,s i-t that an hour?), and spends millions a year on American benzine, and ditto ditto on the absolute rubbish known as picture films. If this reek less expenditure on luxuries were at least kept within the Empire, instead of going to the U.$.A. —tlie country that won the the war, dumps' its rubbish on to us, and erects a tariff wall against our produce, etc.—well, it might be some comfort. But when one reflects that, instead of going to' England and increasing the spending power of cur own people, which, of course, would mean that we would get it back again through increased sale of our produce, every ■penny of this vast expenditure is lost to the • Eknpire-—well, ail I can say is that the statistician i,s to be compli - mented on his sense of humour. Everywhere one goes one sees well-to-do people—men connected with the dairy industry, if you please,—factory managers ahd directors—riding about in their foreign importations, whereas, for a few pounds more, they could be the proud possessors of British cars, and more' car value for the money at that. The ancient bogey about the alleged unsuitability of the British oar for colonial requirements has long since been banished, and.the modern British “(bus” is a better proposition than the best Yank ever knew how to be. But, apart from all this, the question is: Dan the country stand it? It isi hardly necessary to point- out that all the.se cars have to be paid for. For months past, many shrewd business men have been sounding notes of warning of the inevitable crash. Are the lessons of the last slump so soon forgotten? Weill, sir, I will not encroach much further on your space, except to appeal to my intelligent “cobbers” (if they must ibuy motor cars) to. keep trade within the Empire, even at the risk of losing a few pounds. We will certainly get it back again with interest. I will conclude with the usual disclaimer. I am not interested in the sale of any car, —British or Foreign—but am just a- plain farmer, minus a motor car and with but little prospect, of ever getting one. But when, as I daily trundle miy milk to the factory, I see my “highly intelligent” friends lounging complacently in their American cars —well, I wonder which to believe, the Government Statistician or Mr. P. O’iDea and his Australian friend, who accused the inhabitants of Taranaki of lagging, intellectually, ■ fifty years behind the times. Thanking you, sir, for your space,—l. am, etc., THiE RAVEN. Kaponga, April 20.