A MOTOR TRADE PIONEER IN GREYMOUTH

Grey River Argus, 2 October 1948, Page 7

A MOTOR TRADE PIONEER IN GREYMOUTH

T. B. BATY, LTD.

Yesterday was the thirty-second anniversary of the establishment in Greymouth of the business of Messrs T. B. Baty, Ltd., motor car dealers, and Westland Provincial Representatives of Austin Motor Cars. In an interview yesterday, Mr. T. B. Baty, head of the firm said: —On October 1, 1916, we started business here in the motor trade, doing mechanical repairs for Messrs Mark Sprott and Coy., of Mackay Street, who then were the district representatives of the Ford Motor Coy. Looking back over the years, one can recall some wonderful experiences and some changes encountered. There were very few cars in the Grey district in 1916, and repair jobs came from as far north as Westport and Reefton and also from Hokitika. The cars of those days were all open roadsters and tourers, and were cold to ride in. The braking was all on the rear wheels, so that it took a long time to pull up, especially If the brakes were wet. “The roads too, were very narrow and very winding, with sharp curves. Yet in spite of these handicaps very few people were hurt, as the speeds were much slower than to-day.” Mr. Baty said he remembered some harrassing experiences with the South Westland rivers. About the year 1917 there wer» onlv three bridges—those over the Waltaha, the Big Wanganui and the Wataroa Rivers. One day. while proceeding south to the Franz Josef Glacier, he found on reaching the Waitangi, he observed that the Magistrate, who was to hold Court at Okarito, was stuck in the middle of the river, which was in fairly high flood. The “Beak” was standing on the back seat and his wife and daughter were with him. No doubt they feared their last day had come. “However tackle was rigged,” said Mr. Baty, “and we fished out His Worship, family, car and all, to safety, and what joy there was on the bank that day! The water was drained from the engine and eventually it was got running, and the party went on their way rejoicing. The Waiho Gorge Hostel was very small in those days, but the hospitality of the Grahams never waned, and it was always a great joy to get through to the comfort lor which it was so well known. Another experience was that of being towed through the rivers. One day, at the Little Waltaha, our good friend Sam had his mare’s leg broken, and she had to be destroyed. This was very pad and he reii the loss very much. So did we all, as she was a wonderfully userui animal. Many times we had to camp between rivers when they were in ilood. but goo'u mends aiong the road helped us very much, and when the rivers fell we went on our way again. There is still this wonderful spirit among the South people, in tact all over the West Coast, it can ue said that the people have upneld their good name lor friendliness and hospitality. “To-day the Mam youth Road is a good one; the rivers a±e all bridged, and no trouble at all oesets the motorist in any reasonable weather. in the day from 1916 to 1918, the First Great War was raging, and business was difficult, but with the war over and also the epidemic, things got better, and by 192 G we had the first Austin cars. We were appointed to represent Austin vehicles for the West Coast, and the firm have ever since done so. The Austin vehicles to-day are very different from what they were when first they came on the market thirty years ago. Their quality has won for them public appreciation, as shown by the many Austin owners who testify to the car’s dependability from roadsters and tourers. The Austins were built later into coupes and saloons, and the engines and cars generally designed for greater speed, until the latest A4o’s and A7o’s are recognised as first class performers From’the year 1920, Thos. B. Baty Ltd has been a limited liability company. At present the Greymouth premises on the corner of Tarapuhi and Guinness Streets are being re-desmim<

and renovated for future needs, and the Hokitika premises in Revell Street will be brought up to date during the next few weeks. More could he recorded of the years of service given to the public by Thos. B. Baty Ltd., in'every part of the motor trade, especially in the years when tools, etc., were less elaborate than nowadays. Machines and tyres to-day are a ciedit to man’s engenuity, and the motor-car properly handled and controlled, is the safest means of transport. Mr. Baty and his staff extend to all customers and friends hearty greetings on the thirty-second anniversary of their commencing business in the motor trade.