MOTOR INDUSTRY MAKING PROGRESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19060, 3 May 1930, Page 2

MOTOR INDUSTRY MAKING PROGRESS.

INCREASE IN USE OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTS

“ Though there is a feeling of pessimism in certain quarters regarding the motor industry I am confident that business will prove much better than is expected, although it will not equal the record year of 1929,” stated Mr W. M’Hardy Forman, managing director of General Motors, New Zealand Ltd., when interviewed yesterday. “The action taken by the banks, combined with improved primary produce prices in the spring, should result in considerably improved economic conditions during the summer of 1930-31. Our secondary industries do not rely on sentiment or flag-wagging to sell their goods. The quality of New Zealand goods is on a par with that produced anywhere, and in some cases superior. We have found in our own concern that an increasing amount of New Zealand goods is available for incorporation in our cars. And we have found, also, that the use of New Zealand goods has made our cars more popular. One of the most recent additions to the cars is the use of upholstery woven from New Zealand wool and made in New Zealand mills. “From the point of view of durability,” said Mr Forman, "this material is vastly superior to the imported article. “The rumour that we are intending closing down our assembly works in Petone is obviously untrue when it is considered that we are calling tenders for additions to our works costing m the neighbourhood of £SOOO. “Instead of giving up we are getting bigger all the time,” continued Mr Forman. “The Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association has suggested that the importation of cars into New Zealand should be prohibited for a year. If this were done unemployment would immediately increase considerably. This increase would exceed the average person's expectations and would probably lift the percentage of unemployed in this country higher than it is in England. “General Motors,” he said, “do rot import cars. The parts alone are imported and the cars assembled. Bach vear secs a greater percentage of New Zealand materials and labour used. We recently established a body-building plant at Petone and we have 540 employees, besides the huge number connected with our products in other paits of the country. “A local firm is supplying us with chromium plated bumper bars and luggage carriers—more evidence of the use we are making of New Zealand labour.” Dealing with the motor industry locally, Mr Forman said that as far as their own products were concerned it was progressing very favourably. The fact that there was so much New Zealand material in the cars had done a great deal to win the public’s favour. Dealing with the industry generally, he said that business appeared to be as good as ever. It was very probable that the prices of cars would go up as it was costing more for raw material. General Motors had no intention at present of adding new* cars to their list. Mr Forman left for Timaru yesterday afternoon, lie will visit Mount Cook and will make a complete tour of the South Island.