AUTOMOBILES AND RELIGION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 122, 21 February 1928, Page 15

AUTOMOBILES AND RELIGION

Whatever the American lacks in knowledge, he makes up for. in imagination and a ready wit. His ignorance of New Zealand, for example, is profound, but that does not worry him ; it is a pretty safe bet that the next man knows just as little (remarks an exchange). All New Zealand will soon be chuckling over the latest example of our cousins’ guesswork. A copy of the December number of a motor trade periodical, published in Philadelphia, contains the following startling heading:— “NEW ZEALAND SHOW IS HELD IN CHURCH.” Then follows a telegraphic message, dated Washington, December 28, to this effect:— "Automobiles and religion have a close alliance in New Zealand, according to a cable to the United States Department of Commerce from its representative in Wellington. . He reports that the New Zealand ninth annual Motor Olvmpia was held m Christ Church from November 4 to November 12, the edifice being completelv filled with automobiles, the majority of which were of Atnetican make. ’ Out of a total of 92 passenger cars shown, 61 were made bv American manufacturers, 2A bv British, and three bv Italian manufacturers.” . '“The idea of the show in the church,” this amazing message goes on to say, “was bit upon bv the dealers as a unique advertising nossibilitv for the show, and was received with enthusiasm bv the churchmen as a means of raising a tidy revenue for the church.” It will come as something of a shock to the motor dealers of Christchurch to learn that Philadelphia knows not the City of the Plains; but there is this consolation: it might have worse—it might have been Auckland .