BRITISH MOTOR TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21196, 29 November 1930, Page 10

BRITISH MOTOR TRADE.

OVERSEAS ORGANISATION. Of late years Great Britain has been endeavouring to secure its full share of “>- 0r outness, and those who are in a position to know are of opinion that success i s assured. * Haw l ey ' tsle representative ot the motor manufacturers of Great Britain, is at present in Dunedin with a view to establishing a local branch of. the organisation, • and he gives the following information regarding the objects ot the association:— . For. some time there has been in existence an organisation known as the British (United Kingdom) Manufacturers Association, which consists of various sections, as for example, electrical machinery, confectionery, hardware, photographic goods, textiles, drapery and all classes of merchandise. Each section has its own chairman, and stands entirely on its own feet, and the members bind themselves to further the interests of British trade throughout the Empire.” Mr Hawley’s present visit to Otago has been successful, and a local branch has been formed, Mr P. H. Vickery being appointed chairman and Mr E. Howlison secretary. Much enthusiasm was shown by the various traders, and good results are expected to follow. Mr Hawley says that it is being more and more realised that aggressive orgaefforts should be embarked upon by the distributors handling all classes of British motor goods to combat foreign competition. He had been specially appointed by the trade in England to act as the mouthpiece between the organised distributors in the Dominion on the one hand, and the large manufacturers pn the other. ‘ The latter would be kept informed of the requirements of the local sellers, and all the desirable changes in the manufacturing of the cars for sale in the Dominion. It was sought at the outset to foster in the minds of the public in general the necessity of buying British cars, and considerable sums of money wqjjld be expended by the association in advertising and propaganda purposes with this object in view. What has been decided upon is to make a combined attack °n the 80 per cent, of the motor business which the foreigners have been getting in the past. “We do not make .any extravagant claims that we shall oust the American in six months or so, but we hope to get a much larger share of the business,” declared Mr Hawley. “ Several of the British manufacturers are breaking away from the horsepower tax in England and are producing 20 h.p. light six-cylinder cars that more than hold their own against ’the high-powered heavy cars of the foreigners. The new tariff will assist the British manufacturer considerably.”