MOTORS FOR THE MILLION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1976, 5 February 1914, Page 4

MOTORS FOR THE MILLION

OtftEß periods in the world's history may have overtopped the present age' in artj or in literature, or in'intellectual power; but from the point of view of science aftd mechanical invention it stands-unrivalled, aijd in no branch,of industry has more rapid progress been made during th£ past hundred years than in the practical application of scientific discoveries to the means of transport by land, sea, and air. The iron steamship has long ago lost its novelty, though great improvements are Continually bejng made in the methods and facilities for sea travel. Aviation'has not yet overcome its infantile troubles, and is stilt the recreation of a comparatively few. adventurotis spirits, though it would be rash to attempt to pkce limits to its possibilities. The motorcar is in a different position; it has been brought within jfehe Experience of the ordinary man, while still retaining a good deal of its original novelty. Its whole career lies well within the knowledge of the present generation and within the; last decade it has almost revolutionised the street traffic of the .larger, cities of thecivilised world. Some idea of the wonderful manner in Which it has carved out for itself a place in modern life is disclosed by a cablegram which we publish in. anothei , column announcing , that -no fewer than 400,000 motors of all kinds are now running in Oreat Britain, t : heif value being something like £55,000,000. It is, also estimated that' during last year alone £20,000,000 was spent in Britain, in the purchase of new cars. These'figures show that a great industry,'giving employment to thousands of _ men, has absolutely leaped into, existence .in a few years, a,ndthe supply can hardly keep pace with the'demand. At first the price Was so high that the motor-qar wag the luxury of the very.i'iohj but.with the steady decrease in the cost of production the number of people who can afford a car has enormously inercassd, and what was once a luxury has now become a need, and will soon be a necessity. The motor is rapidly -supplantinK horse traction both for business and pleasure, aad a Dfivate carriage of the old stylo has ■become almost ( a curiosity in the streets of Wellington,* The importation of antomdbiks into Kew ZeaifiTid has bec&flie' & very imrjortaut feature in our 'trade, and their com* ing has opened new avenues of employment to our own population. The arrival of the light car is now bttnginji-motoring for pleasure aricj profit within.-the veaelt of tlie million. Special efforts arc at present bcinr inacfe to. etiter for the mass of the ncopte. and th« latest ri&Veltks the light car line show th'a r fc We reali-sation of _ this idea is within ■measurable ; 'dist-ance. Cornmnnting on" the" show held 'in-Eondofl in Novemhoi 1 ■•■ last, tho -Time* st&ted that the light'cars on exhibition had for the most f part exccllently-desigiied and built engines, capable of a very considerable output of newer, and most of the chassis details were well cavrkd out;. lit short, they were simply miniature -ttiotor-ears ;. but the true light car of- the future, which would make- the metor-ca , * , . uni-v-erssl-ifl the sense that the bicycle is to»dsty -univoMal,. will not, in thn opinion of the 'rimet, ba built on these lines.