MOTOR TRADERS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1927, Page 1

MOTOR TRADERS

DELEGATION FROM ENGLAND. AUCKLAND, June fi. A British Motor Trade Delegation, which recently visited Australia, arrived in Auckland to-day. 'lbis delegation comprises Sir Archibald lJoydCarpenler. Conservative M.P. for Coventry: Lieut.-Colonel A. Hacking, Secretary of the Society of British Motor Manufacturers and Trailers ; and Mr A. Fonn. an expert on motor design. They will spend three weeks in New Zealand, meeting representatives ol the motor industry and seeing the loading conditions, with a view lo gathering information which will enable car manufacturers in Britain to produce a car more suitable to New Zealand req 11 i remeiits.

At present Britain receives only £750,1KK) of the £3.000,0011 which is spent annually on motor cars for use in New Zealand, the balance going to America and to Canada. It is. the desire of this delegation to he able to advise the British manufacturers how they can alter their types oi cars in order to capture more of the New Zealand trade which goes to foreign countries.

“The British motor car industry is anxious to meet given demands. -aid Sir A. Boyd-Carpenter. at a civic reception. “We are not unaware of certain prejudices which may have arisen regarding the future of British industry.''

He added: “No Dominion has done as much to hack up British trade ay New Zealand has. We are here to rectify anv failings, although we have been a long time in coming, that is the privilege of the British people. Few Britishers overseas realise what we have come through. The motor industry has found its feet, although three coal strikes have impeded our progress. In spite of all. we have paid our way. London is still financially the centre of the world.”

He said: “It is not a paying proposition for any portion of the British Empire to accept goods from outside, when there is no adequate return of business.”

In an interview, Sir A. Boyd-Carpen-ter said that if New Zealand conditions were similar to those in Australia, lie was satisfied British car manufacturers must evolve methods incorporating the features which make the foreign cars so popular. If cars oi more power. better springing and larger bodies were required here, it would be the duty of British makers to supply them. As the roads here improved, there would he an increasing demand for British cars.