MOTOR INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1931, Page 9

MOTOR INDUSTRY

OUTPUT OF BRITAIN.

EFFICIENCY OF PRODUCTS.

Tn spite of world conditions, the British motor industry is in a flourishing condition. It is .now fourth in importance in the whole of Great Britain s industries, and may assume a place of even ■ greater importance in the near future; i A few years ago the more popular makes' of mass-produced foreign cars almost jostled the British product off -the roads. To-day, actually 95 per cent, of the home market is supplied by British factories.' What the industry may become now depends largely on the loyalty and common sense of Britons, not only at Home, but also in the Dominions overseas. , The motor factories of Great Britain are now catering for overseas markets with a vengeance. Overseas orders placed at Olympia included some from such widespread countries as Australia, New Zealand, Lithuania, the Gold Coast and Uganda. There are much sounder reasons for the improvement in the British motor trade than the temporary advantage gained by Great Britain s ’ abandonment of the gold standard. During the past year or two the British motor-car ihdustry has been putting rationalisation into practice. Plans have been overhauled, programmes modified, and interests amalgamated. Altogether, the industry employs 206,000 people, and is indirectly responsible for the employment of many thousands more. Its advance in the markets of the world is undoubtedly of national interest and importance. A prosperous motor industry brings prosperity in scores of subsidiary industries Iron and steel reap the greatest benefit but rubber, timber,- glass, leather, cotton, nickel and tin take a considerable share, to mention only some of the commodities of which the industry is an important consumer. . New Zealand is turning very rapidly to Great Britain for her cars, tor one reason on account of the efficiency, ex cellent finish and long life of- her products, and the very good value they represent. In addition, it is becoming realised in New Zealand that the prosperity of Great Britain has a direct effect on the welfare of the Dominion, and that any action calculated to weaken our trade with Great Britain imperils our own safety. On the other hand, every genuine British car sold in New Zealand .means two or three more people back in employment in Great Britain, and more people to. buy primary produce from the Dominion. The Dominion is not yet doing her utmost to help herself by purchasing all her. motoring requirements from Great Britain; Although the sales of British cars have improved immensely, there is stiff room for further improvement. The following table shows the proportion of British motors sold in New Zealand in each of the first nine> month. ,of this year: January, 44.32 per cent., February, 47.9; March 37.29 Apnl, 41.C2; May, 39.737.;.- Jiwe, M.S; July, ILir August, 34.9; September, 09.07.