MOTOR TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 20203, 14 June 1927, Page 8

MOTOR TRADE

BRITISH DELEGATION STUDYING DOMINION’S REQUIREMENTS NECESSITY FOR CLOSER CO-OPERATION (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 13. A dinner was tendered to the British motor trade delegation to-night by the New Zealand Association of British manufacturers and agents. The president of the association (Mr G. H. Scott) proposed the toast of “Our Guests.” The question of freights, he said, was one of the most important that had to be faced in connection with the Home trade, as it affected not only the British manufacturers, but also the price of the Dominion’s produce. In that respect the Empire’s competitors had an advantage and there was something wrong. He understood that England was to-day working in regard to the evolution of the motor car of Ihe future on the most up-to-date lines. Road construction, taxation, and the general economic conditions all came into the question, making for the turning out of a useful light car.— (Hear, hear.) That was what the New Zealand conditions required. England was fast recovering her position in the motor-cycle trade, and he hoped the same remark would soon apply to the light motor cars. Her position was now a good one. She was getting over the troubles of the War and she was starting to-day as well equipped as possible in the work of recovering and maintaining a full share of the trade in the manufacture of motor vehicles. The Prime Minister extended greetings on behalf of the Maori race. During his inquiries at Home, he stated, he had not concerned himself so much with the question as to what type of machine was suitable for New Zealand, as to whether the British manufacturers were interested in our requirements. There were about 163,000 registered motor vehicles in the Dominion, and on a population basis that was a fairly large number. Mr Coates referred to the great strides the United Kingdom had made in the exportation of electrical machinery since the War, and notwithstanding the Homeric difficulties she had encountered Britain was still the greatest trading country in the world.— (Applause.) New Zealand would do her share towards maintaining Britain's superiority. Many reasons were given why American cars had got the lead in New Zealand, but he was now sure that there were British cars equally as good as the American. Manufacturers required to move steadily in the matter. The delegation would go Home and be able to tell their principals the exact position, and what kind of car was required, but the price was the governing factor. They do not go on any longer doing trade with people who do not reciprocate. The more money sent to the Old Country the more the people there would be able to take the New Zealand produce which England has still the best market for. Regarding the position of the British car manufacturer, Sir Archibald Boyd-Carpenter affirmed that before the War the English people had been greatly hampered by the excessive taxation levelled on the community. Who was responsible for that burden he would not indicate, but the fact was there. After the outbreak of war England was still more heavily handicapped and taxed and her factories had to be devoted to munitions and making guns. Then England’s competitors took advantage of their opportunity and obtained the markets that had hitherto been hers. After the war the burdens became almost insuperable and England then had to pay back what had been borrowed to help the Allies, but she had her honour at stake and she shouldered the responsibility of paying back the money borrowed to finance the nations that otherwise would have had to go down. Recounting the subsequent trouble due to the strikes, Sir A. Boyd Carpenter stated that the splendid little island from which they had all sprung had only had for the first time last year an adverse national Budget. Let them take counsel together but try and understand one another’s difficulties and thus obviate what might otherwise come about—a diminution of the standard of living, a thing which no portion of the British Empire could afford to contemplate. It would be a possibility that might cause them almost to regard the end of the world as drawing near. It might mean the accession to power of fools who would have no regard for the well-being of the people in the far-flung Dominions. Let them pray that out of God’s providence they would get closer together because the commonwealth of the Empire depended on if. British inter-imperial trade was a burning question and must be faced. When it came to the final test, England preferred honour to self seeking and would let her trade go in order that her ideals might finally triumph.