TRADE PROSPERITY

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 February 1932, Page 13

TRADE PROSPERITY

OPTIMJSAI TN ENGLAND. COMPANIES’ I NCR EASED BUSINESS. Coventry is certainly doing its .-.hare manfully towards a general return to trade prosperity, and, the annual reports of some of the enterprising motor manufacturers there make encouraging reading The Standard Motor Company, for example, showed a profit for the year ended August 31 last of £70,298. compared with £40,192 in the previous year, or an increase of 76 per cent. Further, the first month of the official 1932 programme, September, broke all previous records for any individual month in the firm’s history, both for production and sales. The Riley Company lias paid a dividend of 20 per cent, for the past year, arid this is all the more eomniondabk* as considerable sums have been spent upon plant extension. The factory is now equipped for a greatly increased output, and a serious onslaught upon overseas markets has been initiated.

The firin'’s export imanager. Air. Stewart Fraser, has gone to South Africa with, a representative selection of Riley and 14 h.p. models, and it is understood that the next country on the list for active development is India. Considerable interest has already been shown there in these cars, particularly the latest 9 h.p. army type tourer. WORLD’S RECORD. A novel world’s record is claimed by the Melbourne Distributors of Humber and Hillman cars. Overseas Motors Ptv.. Ltd., who have lately sold a Hillman Wizard to the Australian Estates and Alortgage Company, Ltd. Delivery had to be made to Longreach. in Queensland, practically Central Australia, and a distance of 2000 miles from Alelbourne. This surely constitutes a world’s record of a delivery, and it is eloquent testimony to the confidence felt in the car. Anyhow, it will he well run in by the time it reaches its owner. USES FOR ARAIOURED CARS. The prevalence of crimes of violence on bank messengers is a sign of tintimes, and is certainly not confined to any one country. In South America, the banks are equipping themselves with special armoured ears to transport bullion from point to point, and Rentes, Argentina, South America, have just supplied a 4U-o<)ewt chassis to Transportes, Argentines. South America, which is to be used exclusive ]y for this purpose.

The special body is heavily armoured and is fully-equipped with the latest hold-up and thief-proof devices, including bullet-proof glass, quick-acting shutters for the driver’s windows and screen, an armour protected radiator and rille ports. The interior is fitted with heavy steel safe and accommodation for the guards. British armoured cars have been doing some very strenuous work on the North-west- frontier of India in recent years, and their history is rather remarkable.

Fifteen of these ears' date from 1999-1914. and most of them were used before the war in Mesopotamia. During the war, they all saw service in various ways, and, in 1920. were sc-mf to India for use as armoured cars on the frontier for ffve years, whore they ran at least 6000 miles a year. It is estimated that- each of these RollsRoyces has covered altogether well over 80,000 miles, and it is a magnificent tribute to the famous Derby works that, after such a strenuous life of 16 to 20 years, they should still be in perfect running order.