OLYMPIA MOTOR SHOW

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17382, 10 November 1924, Page 10

OLYMPIA MOTOR SHOW

THE OPENING CEREMONY.

RECORD ATTENDANCE. The largest automobile show ever held in Christchurch was opened 011 Saturday evening, when the Mayor (Mr J. A. Flesher) declared the 3924 Oivmpia open. The exhibition is being held in King Edward Barracks, which have been specially prepared for the function. The interior decorations' are of a distinctive character and present a pleasing sight. The illuminations, which have been specially installed, present a blaze of colour, hundreds of lights being used. Each of the thirty-two displays has its own decorative and lighting system, and all of these are on a scale that give tbe brightly-polished cars on display luxurious settings. Summer flowers and pot plants help to create a brilliant scene. The cars on exhibit are shown under the best possible conditions, and many working sections of the engines are to be seen On Saturday night the attendance broke all previous opening night records. From the opening of tbe doors until after nine o’clock the crowds literally poured in. At half past eight every stand was thronged an 1 every passage wav was blocked with tbe huge numbers present. The salesmen and demonstrators had a busy time. All manner of questions wore asked and answered. Every car had its group of admirers and many were the comparisons made. At eight o’clock the Mayor carried out the opening ceremony by making a short speech. He was introduced by the chairman of the Olympia Committed (Mr L. Treleavan). Mr Treleaven said that it was tbe second automobile show that be had had the honour to preside over, and he counted it a very great honour indeed. He had seen every motor show held in New Zealand, and be could assure those present that tbe 1924 Christchurch Olympia was the best of all. Before introducing the Mayor, lie thanked tbe carpenters and joiners who had worked so strenuously in preparing the various stands, and the Christchurch City Council for its assistance in connection with the special lighting installation. He referred to the assistance that the newspapers of Christchurch had given to the show. If it had not been for the publicity given, lie said, they would not have had such a large concourse of people as they had that evening. He also tendered his thanks to the garage proprietors, who had put forth their best efforts to made the show a success. Finally, he thanked the gene_ ral public for their generous support during the past six years. The Mayor said that he counted it an honour to have been asked to open the sixth Olympia held in the city. Tt was the third occasion on which he had been asked to carry out that ceremony and he appreciated tbe honour conferred on him. He could not help hut endorse the sentiments expressed by Mr Treleaven in referring to the fact that it was the best Olympia in New Zealand That was only natural, for Christchurch was the first city in New Zealand. The transformation that had occurred since eight o’clock on Friday morning was a tribute to the energy of those responsible. The growth of the motor business in the Dominion had been phenomenal, added Mr Flesher. Two years ago it was estimated that, there were 40,000 motor vehicles in the country, and he considered that now there were between 50,000 and 60,000 in of or vehicles in the Dominion. From the point of view of trade it was satisfactory and from the point of view of the employment that it afforded to thousands of men up and down the country it was equally satisfactory. One could not help but he impressed with the progress that had been made with the work of body-building in New Zealand. In that connection, the local body builders had net suffered in the least by competition Irmi oveseas. The local productions, from the point of view of design, comfort and efficiency, were quite equal to any that could he seen in the imported cars. He referred to the growing proportion of British cars on exhibition. and spoke of the difficulties that British manufacturers worked under in regard to taxation and other s matters. Dealing with the progress of the mechanically propelled vehicle in Christchurch, the Mayor stated that in 1905 there were 116 horse-drawn cabs in the city ; in 1924 there were onlv 17. In 1905 there were 185 horse-drawn carriers’ carts in Christchurch; in 192 4 there were 156, not a very great decrease. hut in 1905 there were onlv 2 carriers’ motor trucks, and in 1924 there were 184. The motor-vans owned by private firms numbered six in 1913, but to-day they numbered 140. Speaking of the period of nine years imhiediately preceding 1924, Mr Flesher said that in the first four years 1000* cars had been registered, an average of 250 a year. In the next two years, 2000 cars were registered and in the last three years, 6548 cars had been registered. To show the hold that the motor had in Christchurch, he said that over 15.000 cars had been registered in the city and it was estimated that there were about 11,000 in and about the city at present. The licenses to drive numbered 8671 and the certificates of competency mini be red 895. He took the occasion to refer to the number of persons who drove without a license or certificate and said that all that would be changed on December 31, when everyone would have to take out an annual license, the funds to go to the city council. That would he nothing to the taxes that were going to be made to support highways outside the city. All that was going to affect the motoring public, said the Mayor. “I want to make a protest,” he added, “ and a very emphatic protest, against the hasty legislation that has been put through.” He referred to the Heavy Traffic Act and said that the Government had shown no consideration to the City Council at all. All that they knew was that the city was going to give £II.OOO away annually to the Highways Board, and not a penny of it was to be spent in the city. Again, threefifths of the money was to be spent in the North Island and two-fifths in the South Island, end he thought that the allocation should be adjusted more fairly. However, they would have to pay and look pleasant. “Carnival Meek without an Olympia would be unthinkable,” said the Mayor in conclusion. He was sure that the huge crowds would gladden the hearts of the officials and he was sure that the exhibition would be successful. He then declared the show open. The playing of the National Anthem concluded the opening ceremony. The president (Mr. Treleaven) and

the secretary (Mr T. Newburgh) and the various committees, had a busy time, but there was nothing at which a complaint could be levelled. During the evening a musical programme was played by AVillyams’s Orchestra. The Olympia will he open every day and evening this week.