RETURN OF PROSPERITY

Southland Times, Issue 22956, 31 July 1936, Page 11

RETURN OF PROSPERITY

That the Motor business has recovered from the depression period is evident by the great increase in new registrations. Official returns show that forty new Chevrolet motor-cars and trucks were registered in Southland during June. Collectively the number of new vehicle registrations in Southland for June was very considerable, although the nearest approach to the Chevrolet sales by any other trade-mark was seventeen. Despite a rumour to the contrary, A. Russell & Co. Ltd., the Chevrolet distributors, whose total staff by the way numbers forty-five persons, is having to augment the number of its employees. The early advent of a forty-hour week, which will bring increased remuneration and leisure to a host of workers, will doubtless result in a still greater demand for motor vehicles. The wide-open spaces and beauty spots of Southland and the Eglinton Valley will be fully explored in the coming months by those in search of recreation and health. Three leading Southland Public Bodies recently placed orders for a total of eight Chevrolet vehicles—reliable evidence of the ever-growing popularity of the New Zealand-built Chevrolet. Messrs General Motors, N.Z., Ltd., of Petone, employ a staff of over 650 New Zealand workers. The wages paia for the month of May, 1936, amounted to £14,50C while local purchases of materials, operating and miscellaneous costs exclusive of salaries and wages during 1935 totalled £400,000, paid out in New Zealand. Any Southlanders about to visit Wellington will be afforded facilities to inspect the Plant of General Motors, at Petone, if application is made to A. Russell and Co., Ltd. A visit to this modern plant is an educational treat and a revelation in modern methods and scientific organization. The June issue of “Motor” with latest compilation of registration ligures, shows that the i etail sales of Chevrolet vehicles for the first quarter of 1936, total 253,514 which exceeds its nearest competitors sales by 46,742. The six cylinder overhead valve Chevrolet, with its cast-iron pistons, steel turret-top body and hydraulic safety brakes appears to be the car that appeals to the great motor car buying public, discerning as it is, in its search for reliable transport at low upkeep cost. —P.B.A. 2726