MOTOR INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1924, Page 1

MOTOR INDUSTRY.

'QUESTION OF OIL SUPPLIES. AUCKLAND, Fed;. 23. ' The motor vehicle,” said the Prime Minister, in opening the Attcklnlml -Motor Show, “ has come to stay. If you look hack twenty years you will find that there were not more than twenty motor vehicles in the whole cf New Zealand. To-day there are ovor ■IO,OOO, and they are still increasing enormously.” Endorsing the Mayor’s views on the importance of fostering the Britishmade car, Mr Massey expressed the hope that the time would shortly come when Now Zealand would he in a. position to make its own cats. Already quite a. considerable proportion of motor ear bodies were made in tliis

country, amt it was probable that in time to come we would he making the chassis, too. British manufacturers worn doing their best to suit the Dominon's requirements, and were rapidly getting acquainted with our needs. lie himself had purchased a. British-made car before the war, and could testify that after having done an immense nriioiinl of work if was iust .ts good as many new cars to-day. " I want British niamifact urers every time,” Mr Massey declared. “First, let us take our own, (hen those made in Britain, and finally, if they cannot suit you, only then the mnuulact tires of other coinilries.” (Applause.) A problem which had yet to be solved, continued Mi .Massey, was the supply of sufficient mineral oil front Kmpuc source,, to imcct modem rei|iiireincnls. lie was, as a matter of laci, very doubtful if the supply was sufficient. Supplies might bo obtainable mil-ide the Empire, but it was es-

sential in bis opiniutt that the Empire should produce everything it needed. If anyone could see the possibility of obtaining oil in New Zealand with a fair prospect- of commercial success he would give them something worth while.

Mr Massey referred to the forthcoming visit of the Empire naval squadron, which he knew would ho accorded a worthy welcome in the Dominion. Do Imped that Urn personnel would include snmc expert who could advise the Dominion regarding oil fur commercial uses. He did not wish to spend Government- money uselessly on shale deposits, hut if oil could he found in New Zealand, m something that would (lu equally as well, it would he a splendid thing for the country.