BRITISH CARS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20320, 31 January 1928, Page 10

BRITISH CARS.

MEETING DOMINION NEEDS

VISIT OF MR W. R. MORRIS

(Special to Daily Times.)

AUCKLAND, January 30.

Declaring himself a champion of the British workman, British industry, and co-operative Empire effort, Mr VV. R, Morris, of England, the maker'of Morris motor cats and one of the Leading figures in Imperial industry, arrived from Vati: couver by the Aorangi last" night, giving as the main object of his visit to the Dominion a desire to become personally acquainted with the conditions here bearing on the activities of the great concern of which he has made a phenomenal success. He hastened to add ; that he was equally desirous of playing some part as an ambassador of reciprocal trade. Commencing without capital in the bicycle business, Mr Morris later entered the field of motor cycle manufacture, and in 1912 he laid the foundation of a motor industry for which he recently refused an offer of £12,C00,C00 from an American syndicate. To-day he is seeking by personal experience to meet the needs of the dominions to the uttermost limit and by the expansion of an already huge business to add to his 20,C00 English employees. “I attribute my success mainly to the fact that when I started in business I had no money, and for that I thank my father and mother,” he said. ” 1 am of the opinion that it is the boy who starts from the bottom who becomes the successful business man of the future.”

“ The world has no equal of the British workman,” said Mr Morris enthusiastically, when sketching the expansion of the Morris enterprise. Asked whether the export business of British motor factories was sufficient to warrant the production of distinct models lor use overseas and powered sufficiently high to eliminate over-frequent gear changing, Mr Morris said, speaking for his own firm, that it had recently designed models which he was confident would meet dominion requirements in this respect. In point of fact. The latest.’ a more powerful machine, was to be re, leased on the British market that day! He was emphatic, however, that all aspects of design would be carefully studied by him during his contemplated motor tour of the Dominion He added : “ You may be sure that nothing that can be done to make my cars completely suited to you road conditions will be passed over. This is what I am -here for.”

Discussing the popularity of Amerman cars of the six-cylinder type, the British manufacturer said that bis firm was meeting this form of competition in the model now ready for release, but he was certain the British designers would not revert to large engines even if the horsepower fax were lifted. While- he repeated his desire, frequently expressed throughout the interview, to avoid any criticism of foreign manufactures, he emphasised the supremacy of the small British engine with its high-power dove'npment and economical operation. “ There is to-day absolutely no necessity for a Britisher to buy anything but a British car.” said Mr Morris. “That I would not have said two years ago. but had you seen the last 'British motor Olympia you'would "have realised the truth of my contention.”