THE MOTORING OUTLOOK

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1930, Page 20 (Supplement)

THE MOTORING OUTLOOK

CARS STILL SELL FREELY PROBLEMS THAT WORRY DRIVERS. QUESTION OF “ALL DAY" PARKING.

1 By

“Antoscribe.”

Pccsimi.-m is widespread in the motor trade at the moment, but is hard to justify on the facte, for the registrations "so far this year show that care are still being bought freely. The expansion of sales each year has been eo rapid, and has continued eo easily eeason after season, that we have assumed that each, successive year must cce an increase bn the previous one. In a neriod of lowered prices for primary products every trade in a country such as New Zealand is inevitably affected, and the volume of sales of all classes of goods drops. The sales of pianos, gi-amophor.es, wirekvs sets, and even drapery and other essentials, have shown‘decreases this year, and the sales of motor-ears will also be affected, but not to the extent that pessimists imagine, and not sufficiently to affect the soundness and stability of the motor trade. Up to the end of May <3882 cars had been sold this year, as against 8001 for the same period last year, and it is probable that this ratio will be continued, throughout, the year, unless wool and other prices show substantial increases durino- the coming season. If that occurred, sales would leap upwards at once, and might then eome within close distance, of those of Jafet year. Ii present conditions are maintained during the year, is is probable that between 2000’and 3000 less car sales will be made this year- than i;;st. That may seem sufficient ground for pwsimism, but when this year’s figures are compared with those for 1928 the position is shown in a much more favourable light. For the first five months of 1928 ear sales were 5433, or actually 1449 less than the sales for the same period this year. Looked at in its proper light, and in relationship to other trades at the present time, the motor trade is thoroughly sound and the volume of sales sufficient to ensure a fair measure of prosperity to dealers m sound posiCAUSE AND CURE OF PISTON SLAP.

A letter from a motorist who is ha>in„ trouble with pieton elap in his car -eminds the writer that it is at this time of the year that it often becomes most apparent, because the engine will be very'cold when started, and will takelonger to warm up- As a general rule the° “slapping” noise disappears comnletelv when the engine is thoroughly warmed up, but even if it does not there is no great cause for alarm. lhe trouble ie often worse in one make of ear than another, because of the sufferent materials'used in the pistons. Some expand more rapidly than others, thus needinrr greater provision for clearance, -and these tend to develop piston slap ata smaller mileage than others. It should be realised that there must eventually he piston slap in. any case because there must always be clearance between the piston and the cylinder, and L'caiii-e"this clearance will increase wnn question that worries the motorist is at what stage he should have new -inns or .pistons -fitted. It is quite impossible to lay down any mileage basis because this will vary tremendously, according to the make of car. .Some rings need renewing after only small mileage, while others will last for 50.000 miles and still not allow much piston slap. Probably the best tedt lies in oil consumption. If this becomes abnormally heavy, it is time action was taken and either the rings or the pistons were renewed. As a general rule when the job becomes necessary it pays to have tne •cylinders reground and new pir.tons fitted, for the labour c-st of doing the one is very nearly as great as tha* oi the other. THE PARKING PROBLEM. The parking of motor-cars in the business areas of our towns and cities is steadily becoming more and more difficult, and it is apparent that the 'all day” parking will have to come to an end in city areas before very long. 'When that’ day dawns motorists will have the choice of leaving their cars in suburban streets and taking the tram the last section, or paying a daily rate —or monthly one—for the privilege of leaving the car each day in a building specially built for parking. New Zea- ’ land car owners do not generally appreciate the low rates tney art? charged for parking in city garages usually 2s a day. In the heart of Wellington there is a parking station which charges only half that rate. Compared with American cities, these rates are very low indeed, for the average charge in the cities there —and this is not confined to places like New York, but operates in much smaller cities also; —is a dollar a day, while there is usually a minimum charge of Is if the car is left for only an hour. In the larger cities there are ten and twelve storied garages equipped with fast moving lifts, capable of handling up to 300 cars in and out per hour, anS all sorts of labour saving devices are installed to minimise the handling required. We have not approached that stage yet, but our parking problems are becoming more difficult in our cities, arid provision will soon have to be made. ENGLISH CARS GAINING GROUND. An interesting leaf uro disclosed by last year’s returns of car sales in New Zealand is fha the English car is gaining ground here, there being an increase of 3 per cent, in the sales last year as compared with 1928. Slightly over 17 per cent, of the cars imported to New Zealand now come from ’England, while 46 p 61 ’ ecnt ’ ' coir ‘ o fro,n Canada. The increased sales of English cars in New Zealand is largely due to the popularity of the "baby” class car solely confined to makes of English manufacture, but the tendency of English manufacturers io pay greater attention to the needs of overseas Dominions is expected to further increase the proportion of sales during the next few years, Canadian car sales last year showed a heavy increase, being considerably in excess of American cat sales, but this, was expected owing to the production' in Canada of a car. wliieh had been oil’ the market for a, season. ■ The advantages of Canadian , •■j :■ e< .J • ■

I manufacture are clearly apparent to American motor companies, and then i percentage will increase in the future. 1 ‘ SAVING TROUBLE. EXTRA FITTINGS AND GARGETS. Car-owners can sometimes make theii cars more comfortable to drive . anil more convenient to use by the addition of a few. carefully-selected extra fittings. The most important mattci in the" question of driving comfort is a good seating position, as this is a point which not only affects .personal comfort, but actnai driving ability as well, because the driver who is well placed with regard to the controls is Jn a much better position to handle his car with precision than the driver who is • sitting in an unnatural attitude. A seat that is really adjustable over a wide range is a great aid to comfort. Those who have cars with a badly-ar-ranged seat, but do not feel inclined to go to much expense to rectify the trouble, will often find that a wedgeshaped cushion will make all the difference between comfort and discomfort on a long run. Sliding seats, which are standard in some cars, will be found a boon, as they are instantly adjustable for correct leg reach and make entiy and exit far easier. There are innumerable other accessories which make the driver’s lot easier. It is surpiising what a difference the fitting of a few “extras” seems to make to a car. Then there is the question of maintenance, which must not be overlooked, and the owner who is keen to keep his ear in first-class trim will find many things, advertised to help him. to make his task lighter. Body polishes“ that give quick and lasting results, footpumps that save much backaehing woik in keeping the tyres up to pressure, : special jobs for facilitating such jobs. as valve removal, the latest tyre repair outfits which contain everything essential for speedy and permanent repairs, and quick-drying enamels or cellulose lacquers for touching up blemishes in the body-work, are but a few or the items that are a great aid in preserving the good appearance and efficient -working of a ear. Motorists are, In fact, extremely well catered for in these days, and if discretion is e?:ervised in the purchase af a few good extras, motoring can be made far more pleasant on quite a limited outlay.

“NO PARKING." an ancient problem. — b Research reveals that the traffic problem is not new. Old prints show that comparable traffic conditions prevailed in the cities of ancient history, many generations ago, writes Whiter P. Chrysler in “Nation’s Business.” Biblical prophecy in the Book of Nahum, chapter 2, verse 4, indicates that, as long ago as 743 8.C., traffic conditions such as we find in city streets' to-day were -envisioned, Isays tKe prophecy: “The chariots shall rage in the streets; they shall jostle one another in the broad ways; they shall seem like torches: they shall run like lightning-” • . . , • In ancient Rome. Caesar issued an edict forbidding vehicles to enter certain streets - during business .hours. (Similar regulations were in effect in other large cities in the Roman Empire. There, undoubtedly, was originated our most annoying of all traffic rules, "No Parking.” In 1867, in New York City, according to the leonbgraph of Manhattan Island, a bridge was built over Broadway because Broadway was so crowded with vehicles it was impossible at-cer-tain times to cross the road without imminent danger to life and limb. So it error to blame congestion entirely jj-i the automobile. We must iemember that the term traffic applies to pedestrians as well as vehicles. It means, in its broad sense,, the exchange of goods, the business of transportation.' . . ’ • MOTOR TRANSPORT. A closer economic study of automotive questions should be based' not only on‘production figures, but. also on those showing the economic value of motor vehicle operation and use. In America, for example, investigation has shown that the labour of only one. man is required to every 14 automobiles produced; whereas traffic control, operaI tion, maintenance, and construction and improvement of highways for the same 14 vehicles when in use require the services of three men. Thus every five motor vehicles in operation create a job for one man. By the production .in 1929 of 5,690, 099 motor vehicles, employment was created in U.S.A, for some 400,000 men. Sale, operation, servicing, repairing, and garaging of the 26,006,0'00 motor vehicles registered in U.S.A., in addition to necessary highway construction, require a labour force of not less than 400,000 men. It naturally cannot be ascertained how many of this number support families with their wages. However, when we include those who rely for their economic support upon wageearners in the automotive industry and allied activities, the total figure is increased by several million. No -country, therefore, which desires to create as many jobs as possible can afford to ignore the motor vehicle. The significance of motor transport is reflected not only in the employment situation 'but also in the level of production costs, which determine the extent to which the time-saving motor vehicle will be used. The merchant, for instance, who cannot take full advantage of his working hours through lack of modern transport is unable to do business on even terms with competitors who can reach their market quickly and comfortably. The greater efficiency made possible by rapid transport naturally increases productive capacity and income. Therefore, the use of modern transport, agencies, accomplishing more in a given time than the man who does not use them, is entitled to demand a greater income. Development throughout the nation of greater efficiency is an outstanding economic need. When we consider the increased efficiency made possible by the motor vehicle, it becomes obvious that this is one of the most productive factors in our modern progress. The development of motor transport has enabled many Americans to live ' more comfortably than they could be-

fore, with the Fame salary; the automobile has made it possible for them to live more cheaply and healthfully in the country than they could near their jobs in the expensive and noisy cities. The use of motor transport is also of great importance to the National Treasury. The revenue from the 26, 000,000 motor vehicles’registered in the United States totals some <800,000,000 dollars annually.