COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1932, Page 3

COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT

MOTORING TRADE ABROAD. COMFORT OF MODERN COACHES ■"New Zealand and, Australia both have much to learn in regard to motor transport,” said Mr. G. E. Wheeler, of Auckland, who returned on Monday after investigating commercial motoring in the United States and Britain during a period of nine months. Mr. Wheeler' mentioned several important advances which, he considered, would eventually have to be followed in the Dominion.

The purpose of Mr. Wheeler's tour was to study the latest methods in transport and to return to Auckland with an advisory report for his firm. From his inquiries and observations he believed that New Zealand transport would have to be changed tremendously before it could hope to compare with the position of the trade in America, and Britain.

“I travelled by motor coaches across America from San Fran'eisco to New York, a distance of more than 3500 miles,” said Mr. Wheeler. “Motor transport is operated in America, as well as in England, on a gigantic scale, which cannot be realised from New Zealand. The organisation is wonderful, and the services are highly popular and cheaper than railway transport.’ With the object of gaining practical experience in the technical side of the trade, Mr. Wheeler worked in several factories in America and Britain and noted improvements in design. He found that the “accessibility” of the American, chassis at present was somewhat superior to the British, but at the Olympia exhibition it was apparent from the models displayed that British manufacturers were giving more attention to that point. That was the case especially with one or two firms possessing substantial markets in New Zealand.

'Practically all the leading commercial chassis manufacturers were exhibiting compression ignition engines. A.t the 1928 Olympia only two were exhibited, and they were Continental products. The re-designing of the combustion chamber, the piston head and the fuel injection nozzles had contributed to a notable advance in this type of engine. “Such is the efficiency of the compression ignition engine,” said Mr. Wheeler, “that I consider the time is not far distant when motor transport vehicles and haul'age trucks will substantially be equipped with these engines.” Mr. Wheeler said the effects of the decline in world trade were particularly pronounced in the commercial motor business. In America the depression in the trade was very serious, and factories generally were operating to only 50 per cent, of their capacity. When he reached the United States the unemployed numbered. 6,000,000. In a brief space of time the labour market had suffered to a remarkable extent, the number of unemployed now being about 10,000,000, and the .prospects for improvement in the ne'ar future were slight. The United States Government had not made provision and relief actually was undertaken by charitable organisations. One condition assisting American motor transport operators was the elimination of competition wherever possible. Before a license was granted to a firm the issuing authority had to be satisfied that, in the event of competition being brought about, trade rivalry would be a public necessity. The important feature of the transport services in America was the strictly up-to-date nature of the vehicles engaged. Every effort was made to satisfy the public, and motor coaches had hot water heating circulating from the radiator, a retiring room and lounge seats. The vehicles were of a size which could no*, obtain in New Zealand under the existing road classifications for heavy transport. The trade situation in Britain was rather better than in the United States, and the business in motor-cars and commercial vehicles was fairly good. 'Some relief had been given by the departure from the gold standard, and another favourable sign was the increasing appreciation of the Dominions of the benefit from trading within the Empire. There was not the slightest doubt that British motor products were efficient, and the latest developments in the industry were closely followed by the manufacturers. Britain evidently was eager to be in touch with the latest advances.