DAY OF CARS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16317, 18 April 1927, Page 8

DAY OF CARS

BRITISH CARS FOR AUSTRALIA. DELEGATES’ MISSION. BERTH, April 6. “ There is a very (decided tendency not only in Great Britain, but in America, South America, and other parts of the world towards a more flexible motor omnibus to take the part of a tram on fixed rails. This has led to the development of six-wheeled vehicles, which are now being taken up by the War Office in London, and will doubtlcs proves of commercial interest to Australia, not only for passenger carrying purposes, but for tho transport of wool, wheat, and other farm produce over any type of road surface.”

This was the comment of LieutenantColonel Alfred Hacking, secretary of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, who is at present visiting Australia with Sir Archibald Boyd-Carpen-ter, M.P., and Mr. Alan A. Fenn. Interviewed at Perth Mr. Hacking said that the present delegation on behalf of the motor industry of Great Britain was one immediate result of the recent Imperial Conference. The increasing importance of road transport not only to Australia but- to Now Zca land, South Africa, and India, was such that the British manufacturer realised that, there was more than a personal reason that no -effort should be spared to obtain a full share of the markets of the world for mechanically-propelled vehicles. “Great Britain, ’’ he went on. “has had a difficult time since the war, from both industrial and uneconomic, point of view. Now I think we have got over the -difficulties hotter than any other country. "CO-OPERATION SPIRIT. “ In the motor manufacturing industry of Great Britain there is a spirit of co-operation between employee and employer, which is a good thing for tho industry, for it has resulted in improved factory methods and lowor production costs,"leading to increased production of a motor-car at a lower cost per unit. “In many motor factories in Great Britain the method of payment by some form of piecework has resulted in high wages to men and even increased the capacity of tho plant. “ From the point of view of export it is quite obvious that whilst conditions werq/in a state of amcertainty the British manufacturer had to proceed with a degree of caution in developing his export market. At the present moment, however, factories are sufficiently equipped and material is forthcoming in sufficient quantities and atreasonable prices to enable a very determined effort to be made to build up trade in the export of motor-cars and commercial vehicles such as Britain had in the early days of the motor trade and before the war. ‘

“ Manufacturers in England are sending factory representatives and travelling representatives throughout the world, and within a comparatively short period of time factories no doubt will produce the types of vehicles for which there is a demand to meet conditions, and at a price and of a. quality appealing to the population of the various cities and districts of Australian ”