PROBLEMS FACE BRITISH MOTOR INDUSTRY

Chronicle (Levin), 11 October 1947, Page 5

PROBLEMS FACE BRITISH MOTOR INDUSTRY

Reeeived Fridav, 7 p.m. LONDON, Oet. 10. In a survey of problems faeing tluBritish motor manufacturing industrv, ,Sir Miles Thomas, president of the Bociety of Motor Manufacturers, an.l vice-chairman of tlie Nullield organisation, said only one-tliird of the world 's markets no^v remain open to British motor vehicle exports and lie expresseJ the fear that unless of Government negotiators deal with the matter on an international l)asis, tliere will be a "eomplete freeze-up". Sir Miles Thomas said motor manufacturers were eompletely in tlie hands of the Government. Wlien Mr. Straeliey reeently stop])ed British imports of Portuguese sardines, Portugual innnediately retaliated by suspending imports of British cars. Similarlv there was littkliope of resuming British car exports to Denntark until the Anglo-Danish food negotiations were revived and suceessfuliy eoncluded. Hwitzerland was now the only hard curreney area in Europe without restrietions upon the import of British vehicles, and even there the market was near saturation point. Oue eneouraging point was that a market for British cars was developing in North Ameriea.