The Daily News WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1927. BRITISH MOTOR CARS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1927, Page 8

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1927. BRITISH MOTOR CARS.

The subject of encouraging the output of British motor-cars for use throughout the Empire has frequently been discussed as having an important bearing upon the expansion of British industry and trade. The two main factors are that the vehicles shall be suitable for the requirements of the various parts of the Empire, and that the prices shall compare favourably with the products of other countries. The growth of this industry in the Old Country during the last three or four years is evidenced by the fact that the proportion of foreign to British motor vehicles in use there has lately become less, while in both the most expensive and cheapest types there has been a marked change in popular favour towards British cars. The number of British cars exported in 1926 was about twenty thousand, as against three thousand in 1922, while only just over twenty-one thousand foreign ears were sold there >in 1926 as against well over forty-eight thousand in the preceding year. It is interesting to note that in 1925 no fewer than 4,336,000 motor vehicles were produced in the United States, and 536,000 exported. The presence in London of the Premiers of the Empire countries at the last Imperial Conference was deemed a fovourable opportunity of advancing practically the principle of “Trade within the Empire,” and it was after that conference the British motor vehicles industry decided to dispatch a delegation on a world tour. It is claimed these representatives have already made headway in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, and that cheaper British ears are beginning to make strides in public favour. The strong point in the argument in favour of the units of the Empire, and especially those mainly engaged in exporting primary produce, is that more they buy from Britain the greater will be the demand for these primary products, and that the larger the volume of goods purchased from other countries the less money will there be for British workers to spend on Empire goods. In the past, British manufacturers have been strongly criticised and blamed for their negligence in not capturing overseas trade. It must not, however, be forgotten that Britain, between 1914 and 1919, was fighting for her life in the workshops as well as on the field, and that during those four years and a half the agents of rival firms in other countries were able to sweep all before them, the cheaper American cars in particular being almost the only vehicles available in many markets within and without the Empire. When the trade had just begun to recover, the general strike and the coal strike disorganised production to some extent, and discouraged buying. That there must be competition in this, as well as in other industries, is beyond dispute, so that the manufacturers who turn out the most efficient and suitable motor vehicles at a reasonable price will be sure to catch the eye of the buying public. Probably it will not be disputed that the massproduced vehicle, produced at the rate of many thousands a day, is a wonderful product of the age. The main point is the need for trade within the Empire, leaving the British manufacturers to advance their own views and" propaganda as against their :

foreign competitors. The general use of motor vehicles has brought about a great improvement in roads'all over the world especially in the main arteries of communication. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, who has devoted much attention to the development of the British motor vehicle industry, recently stated that the greatest help which the Empire overseas can give to British manufacturers is to adopt an extensive and well-thought-out road policy, and persevere with it. That is just the policy which is being pursued in the Dominion. There can be no doubt that a great incentive is given to anyone to own a motor-car because of good roads, which also promote development.