THE MOTOR TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 54, 1 September 1926, Page 7

THE MOTOR TRADE

ITS GROWTH IN NEW ZEALAND,

A review of the progress of the motor trade in New Zealand was made by Mr, F. J. Cousins, at the Rotary Club luncheon yesterday. For the past nine years Mr. Cousins has occupied the position of secretary to the Motor Trade Association. He said that the motor trade had not been of very high repute, but that was mainly due to its phenomenal growth. One great diffi-. culty that had to be lived down was the general belief that tho motor-ear of to-day was an. article of luxury, and not a necessity. The question of transport was one of the most important that had to be dealt with. Wherever there was transport, quick, efficient, and economic, trade progress was greater than in any other place. Mr. Henry Ford claimed that America was prosperous to-day because it had gone deeply into the question of transport. , Such a business required to be placed on a platform to which people would look with respect, and that was one of the aims of the association. Mr. Cousins said the association realised that the growth of the trade must be brought about by education and persuasion, and in this respect he claimed that conditions in England had not progressed to the extent they had in New Zealand. The great need to-day wa3 for qualified mechanics and efficient business methods. With ■ the aid of the Apprentices Act boys were being taken straight from school and trained so that there would be no lack of qualified and efficient mechanics. Mr. Cousins also dealt with the details of the trade organisation, and the manner in which it was endeavouring to give the public service. At the conclusion of his address he was given a hearty vote of thanks.