OLYMPIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17189, 5 November 1923, Page 7

OLYMPIA.

THIS YEAR’S MOTOR SHOW.

MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY. The lifill Motor Olympia, opened in King Edward Barracks on Saturday evening, ranks as the greatest and most successful effort that the prometers have yet made to demonstrate the grow th of the motor industry and the wonderful development of mechanical traction. The Olympia of 1923 will he an eye-opener to all who see it. Those familiar with past exhibitions v. ill be gratified at the progress apparent this year, and to those who have not. previously seen an exhibition of ! this kind the display will come as a revelation. The Olympia lia.s now become an indispensable part of the Carnival Week attractions in the city, and. to the visitor, constitute u proof of the aptness of tho metaphor used hv the Alayor, who described Christchurch as the Alecca of the motor industry. Nothing could more emphasise the fact than tho comprehensive display made of all that is best in the productions of i ho modern motor factories Even the uninitiated must bo impressed with the high quality of the exhibits. The scarcity of space to meet the demands of exhibitors has resulted ir. very intensive selection with the result that only tho very best have been deemed as worthy of a place iu tho exhibition. Last year Olympia was hold immediately before the big industrial exhibition and enjoyed tho added space afforded by the annexe. This year those concerned have had to rest content with the barracks, with the result that spare has been at a premium and milch too valuable to use for any but the highest quality articles. "When the first Olympic was held in the Colosseum in 1919 the promoters could scarcely have foreseen the great strides that would be made in the show and which have been proved by the fact that this year every available inch of space in the barracks was taken without any appeal to exhibitors being necessary. On the twenty-eight stands which constitute this year’s exhibition there are 120 motor-cars, six trucks and a number of motor-cycles and accessory displays. A DAZZLING DISPLAY. Under the brilliant gleam of the electric lights the display is one of almost dazzling brilliance. Beautifully polished metal work, superbly groomed body work and a multitude of bright accessories throw' hack the light rays and present a scene of animated beauty. Cars of every description and size, all resplendent in shining paint work and brilliant metal, contribute their quota to the impressive mass effect. A so luxurious and comprehensive is bewildering at first and it i.s quite impossible to take in all the detail at one survey. Each stall is a thing of beauty, and each is different. Hours can be spent in detailed examination of each, and then there will he found to be justification for a further visit and another inspection- At each repeated visit the spectator notes something new that had escaped notice before, so that many rounds of the stalls can be made withdut the process becoming at all some. Every effort has been made to make the display educative, and chassis have been placed on show in such a manner as to exhibit as fully as possible the il way the w heels go round.” These “working exhibits” created a great deal of interest on Saturdayevening and will doubtless continue to do so dfiring the remainder of the exhibition. Here and there .a ticket bearing the word “ sold ’’ indicated that there wore people who went to see but remained to buy. It is very easy, in the midst of such a display, to decide that one really must have a car, but the task of selecting a particular one from a collection of such opulent proportions must be difficult. There is every shade and colour of body and the greatest diversity of design. The small cars vie with the large one for attention (and get it too); there are none without admirers. There was a large crowd present in the barracks when Air L. Treleaven. president of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Motor Traders’ Association. briefly thanked the exhibitors for making the show such a success, and called upon the Alayor to declare it open. The ATayor said it afforded him very great pleasure to officially open the fifth Olympia held under the auspices of the Motor Traders’ Association. Year by year interest seemed to grow in the Christchurch Olympia, which was really the Dominion Olympia. He thought the show that tho people saw' before them that night reflected the greatest credit upon the promoters and also upon the exhibitors. He did nob think that anyone present that evening realised howgreat had been the growth in connection wjth the motor trade in New Zealand. About twelve years ago tho value of the motor cars imported into New Zealand had been £290.000. In 1921 the growth had been about eight times as much. In that period twenty ed by the. motor-cars brought irilo this Dominion, and over 25 per cent of These imports had meant work for hundreds of workmen up and down the Dominion, and not only from the importers’ and traders' side, but from the manufacturers’ point of view, was this a matter for congratulation. For instance, the progress made in motor hotly building during the past few years had been simply marvellous, and must excite one’s highest admiration. It was questionable whether finer work could be found in any part of the world than was to be seen in the exhibition that night. Tt was not only artistic and pleasing, but reflected the greatest credit upon the designers and the workmen who carried out the plans. The motor industry was growing into a great one in this Dominion, and there was no telling what the future of the industry was goig to be. Christchurch was well named the Alecca of the motor industry. On the Cifcv Council register to-day there were 13,000 cars and motor cycles registered. ft would Ik' seen that a very great proportion of the motor vehicles of flie Dominion were to be found, as one might expect, within the bounds of this city. There had l»een 1229 cars registered this year, and the returns for the complete year promised to make a record in this connection. There were in Christchurch among the licensed cars some of the finest that could be found in the Dominion. The number of people who had received certificates of ability from the City Council was nearly 8000. THE HIGHWAYS BILL. ■' There is one point I want, to refer to.” said Air Flesher. *and that is the blot, of the Highways Bill. There is a tyre tax levied with the object of providing a fund to get better roads, but, by a strange arrangement, none of the cities or boroughs in the j Dominion share in the benefits of that I tax. 1 am a motorist and 1 know.how.

much of my travelling has been within the bounds of the city—over the city roads. More than Jialf of it has. J dare say that is the experience of every other private care owner in th© Dominion, and, that being so. it seems hardly fair that the city or borough should he cut out of the benefits of this tax. Thev have just cause for complaint on that ground. But no scheme is ever perfect at the beginning; it is only experience that will enable the defects to be remedied-. ” T hope.” said Air Flesher in conclusion. “ that this, the. fifth Olympia held in this city, will surpass any of the others in its results, and that those who are responsible for its promotion and those who are providing the exhibits will have their expectation more than realised.” Cheers were given for the Mayor and for Mrs Flesher. after which the Mavor was conducted round the show by the officials. THE EXHIBITS. Following is a list of the exhibits:— Stand No. 1 Adams. Ltd. StudeDakers. .1924 model big “six.” 1924 model special “six,” light “six” touring cars, light “six” roadster with Christchurch built three-seater body, light “ six ” sedan. Stand No. 2—N.Z. Farmers’ Co-op-erative Association of Canterbury. Hup-mobilc-sedan, ordinary touring Hup., sports model Hup, four-seater Overland sedan. Overland touring five-seater, three seater with colonial Kidv. This is the first time that this exhibitor has ex • hibitod at Olympia. Stand No. 3—David Crozier. Ltd. Cadillac: Touring eight-cylinder Cadillac. Austin : Enclosed coupe, touring car, three seater roadster with Christchurch body, Austin seven, the baby car ot the show. Earl : Cabriole. Stand No. 4—Southern Motors. Willy s-Knight cars. Stand No. s—Storeys—Storey and Co. Bianchi, several models and chassis. Stand No. 6—Royds Afotors. Ltd. Rugby : Touring, special touring, roadster and feature chassis. Gardner; Sedan and sports model. Stand No. 7- —K. E. England. Chalmers: Four-seater coach, five-eeater, seven-seater and sports model. Stand No. B—The Dominion Motors. Ltd. Hudson: Sedan, coach, touring and speedster. Essex : Coach, touring. Chevrolet. Stand No. Ba—Cooper and Pryee. Dort six-cylinder. Dort four-cylinder and and English Phcenix. Stand No. 9—Rink Taxis., Ltd. Packard single six, Arrol-Johnston, Velie Stand No. 10— Amuri Alotors, Ltd. Dodge, Rolls-Royce (Christchurch body work). Sunbeam. Stand No. 11 —Tench Bros. Stephens salient six, Chalmers-Alaxwell (various models). Stand No. 12—Canterbury Alotor Company. Ford models. Lincoln model. Stand No. 13 —Todd Alotor Company. Gray: Touring, roadster, three-seater open with Christchurch body, threeseater coupe, coach, four-door sedan and truck. AVolseley. Stand No. 14—AY. B._ Scott and Co., Ltd. Fiat: Touring car., sedan, coupe, sports model, 15-20 touring model. Stand No. 15 —A. AY. Smith and Son. Oakland, 1924 models, touring and sedan. Stand No. 16—Blackwell Alotors. Ltd. Buick, 192 f models, Christchurch body Stand No. 17 —Suckling Garage, Ltd. Flahtite reflectors and hot spot vapourStand No. 18— AA atkinson and Kennett. Exide batteries, Bosch magnetos. Delco lighting. Stand No. 19—Adams, Ltd. Triumph, motor-cycles and B.S.A. motor-cycles, Fisk tyres, T T .S.L. batteries. Stand No. 20—C. AY right Bros. Chandler cars. Stand No. 21 —Jones Bros., Ltd. Harley-Davidson motor-cycles and sidecar floats. Stand No. 22 —N. H. Fraser. Moon : Sports three-seater, five-seater stock models,. 640 model. Stand No. 23 —Bell Cycle and Alotor Company. Indian motor-cycles, A.J.S. motor-cycles, delivery outfit. Stand No. 24—Christchurch Afotors, Ltd. Jewell car in several models; chassis. Stand No. 25—Gibbs Alotor Company, Ltd. Douglas motor-cycles, Norton motor-cycles. Stand No. 26 —W. H. Simms and Son. A'eedol and Tydol products. Stand No. 27—H. J. Ranger. Chevrolets in several models. Stand No. 28 —Ranger Windshield Company. Patent windshield.