LIGHTER CARS.
THE WORLD’S TREND
ENGLAND ’® BRIGHT PROSPECTS
The most striking development in tlie motor industry is the world-wide t:end towards the smaller vehicle, according to Mr <G. 11. Scott, representative in Australia and New Zealand of the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., one of the greatest manufacturers of motor vehicles in Great Britain. Mr S’eofct, after exhaustive enquiries during a business trip throughout the 'Commonwealth, including Tasmania, in the course of which he sounded every available source of opinion on the. matter, states that the attitude of the buying public towards smaller .motor vehicles thas entirely changed, and it is not generally recognised either by those engaged in the motor industry or the earbuying .public the extent to which economic and taxation factors have changed the national individual viewpoint regarding the type of vehicles in demand to-day.
(‘The reasons for this changed attitude are interesting,” said Air iScott recentlv, prior to his departure for New Zealand, where he makes his headquarters., “The 'opinion has frequently been expressed that the basis of taxation in 'England, £1 per 'horse power, was the chief factor in preventing that .country from producing the type of vehicle in demand ov'orsoas. At the same time it has boon recognised that this method forced the production of super-efficient small engines developing a very high speed. Parallel with this viewpoint, lias been a very important. development in all parts of the world in road-making. Most, of the .improved* construction .of roads has been carried out with borrowed money, and the. taxation to caver the cost has been almost wholly collected from the motor user. 'Herein lies one of the principal reasons for the changed viewpoint. The modern car owner must buy a vehicle on which taxation and upkeep are within His means, and the economic situation and adjustments in most parts of the world deni 1 ail'd the road construction costs and maintenance shouts be decreased in the aggregate, otherwise the burden will become unbearable.' 'All communities-- will, be driven to construct greater mileages of roads but wall construct them to suit lighter vehicles. ‘The national tendency therefore is to increase taxation on heavier .vehicles and give relief to the lighter types in order to make the burden -of taxation tolerable. “Even in. America, where benzine is cheap and the capital cost of the vehicle is low, motor users are urgently demanding some relief from the burden of taxation. g “In ten years, the increase of vehicles wa's 3©2 per cent., while th'at of taxation was 535 per cent. Th'at is, legislators throughout the world .find il imperative to tax those who are the .chief users of the costly Toads which are being constructed. With improved roads, relief to those who be'ar the tax is found in the purchase of a
vehicle lighter both in weight and upkeep, and the fact is compelling manufacturers to meet the demand created. “A serious problem confronting the motor user within the next few- years will be tlie value he will receive in part .payment for any of the heavy vehicles and middleweight vehicles now in use or being purchased. “Enquiries to discover the market value of the larger six and four cylinder cars confirms my belief that the motorists’ problem of the future will lie how to exchange this vehicle for the modern ty.pe which is displacing it. Every user of the heavy vehicle must undoubtedly be prepared for an increased rate of depreciation. I do not suggest, that the sales of vehicles will decrease; in fact, ruling'conditions and all the indieati/ns arc that they will increase. There will bo an increase in the numbers of vehicles, but of smaller types. In fact, ruling conditions in the world to-day have so altered thtyt England’s types of vehicle's, produced as the result of taxation methods in that country, will in a short period of time be those most generally in demand.
“England has been supreme in the production of light transport, and today controls The world’s markets in bicycles and motor-cycles, and if all British companies could make the same progress that my principals have, flic export market in motor-ears would before long be dominated by her.” — From the “.Sydney Morning Herald.”
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 July 1928, Page 14
Word Count
700LIGHTER CARS. Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 July 1928, Page 14
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