THE MOTOR TRADE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1909, 18 November 1913, Page 11

THE MOTOR TRADE

ITS GREAT EXPANSION. OPENING OF ft NEW GARAGE. A very pleasant little function drew a. number of representative citizens to the lioya.l Oak Hotel yesterday aornmg to mark tho owning 0 { Messrs. Sanderson: ami Co.'s now motor tt-awhotiso and garage m Wakefield btrcet., Mr. Magnus briefly referred to the aava-nees of the. motor trade in Now Zealand, tvitii wliieh he had been connected tor many yeats. Ho honed that the depression that Was hanging ovct the city 011 account of the strike would ■ Soon be lifted, and that trade would resume its normal conditions. Sir Joseph Ward, referring to the great commercial enterprise of Messrs. Magnus, Sanderson and Co., remarked thai most ef those present had: known Mr Magnus for a long time. Ho hid known him for many years,- and had always , found him to be a man of the highest integrity—(apphuso) —and in to line :of business a mar. ol groat zeal, itefer- . ring to the enormous expansion of the motor business in recent years, Sir Joseph Ward said t'hat this expansion ■ was due not bo much to motoring as a pleasure as for its great usefulness m business, for oven people in a small way wore finding it an indispensable adjunct to -their businesses. l%e motor business was an - increasingly important one. The farmers, used cars a great deal, and they had served to malte their lives much more enjoyable than before. There ' was a time, too, when the horses played up at the sight of a motor-car, but now horses of every breed Were qiiita accustomed. to them., though they fought shy of the curious dress of those who drive the cars, (Laughter.) Ho had a great respect for the enterprise of Messrs. Magnus, Sanderson, and Co., who had erected a garage that was the finest in New Zealand, and one that was not equalled even in Australia, lie expressed the-hope- that the present industrial trouble would. soon be over. The toast of the'firm, coupled with tie namo of Mrs. Magnus, was, at the call of Sir Joseph Ward, honoured with accompanying cheers for tlio fir® and Mrs. Magnus. In reply, Mr. Magnus- stated that lie appreciated the remarks made by Sir Joseph Ward very •nj'Uch. He was suro if the Wishes of all those present were. carried into effect, their. success would be really phenomenal. Good will weiit a long way—they had always had it. and hoped to retain it. They conducted their < business on straight lilies, afld by doing so had made many friends. He gave tho assurance that they meant to keep straight and practise nothing but fair dealing, and m doing so give good : value for the money, {Applause,) Mr. J. It. Briusdon (manager of the Dunloji Company); speaking on behalf of the trade, paid a compliment to the Straightforward manner in which Messrs. Magnus., Sanderson, and Co. conducted their business, and said tlioy wero all; glad to see the advances that were being made in the motor trade, and he wished the firm all success. The erection of sticli premises as those built for Messrs. Magnus, Sanderson, and Co. must, ho said, reflect on the whole of the trade. Ho was vary proud to voice these remarks, and to ■ have Messrs. Magnus and Sandors. not .only as customers. hut as friends, (Applause.) , Dr. Fitchett (Public TrusUs) stated' that tin; new building had been erected under aft arrangement with the Public Trust Office, and ho Was happy to say that there had never been a liitch from : the .time they 'had started until the.. Wilding was completed. As far a.s ho : could see the contractor, Jin M'Millan, had done.his work well, and the architect (Mr. J. Dawson,) had given them a fine design. Ho was informed that there was no better garage in New Zealand, and Mine to surpass it in Australia. He hoped that the relations betweeil the Public Trust would be as pleasant ir. the future as they had been m tho past. : (Applause.) Mr. J. Fitzgerald, on behalf of the. retail trade, congratulated tho firm on. the advances it was making. It showed that that Magnus, Sanderson- and Co. had. confidence in the future of the trade in erecting the finest, gwage in New Zealand, and.they al'l hoped that it was not misplaced, • Sir. P. W. Haybitiio. said he hoped that Messrs., Magnus, Sanderson and) Co. would give a lead by galvanising a little life and enthusiasm into the Wellington Automobito Association. Sir Joseph Ward had overlooked one little point in speaking of tho -utility of the motor, and he instanced how the lot of the farmers- -and fishermen of the Marlborough Sounds had been improved by the advent of the. motor-boat. In respect to charges, he hoped 1 thq.y would bo lessened and lessened until _ they came down, to an irreducible minimum. Mr. Kelly (secretary of the Automobile Association) said that in regard to what Mr. Haybittle had said Messrs. Magnus, Sanderson and Co. had promised a reduction of 10 per cent, to those showing the badge of the association, The company subsequently adjourned across- the road to inspect the firm'is new promises.