BRITISH CARS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1930, Page 2

BRITISH CARS

OBJECTIONS MET. . WAY TO IMPROVE TRADE BALANCE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 22. “Some people in New Zealand are worried about the adverse trade balance. Alight I suggest to you that if you give up for 12 months buying American cars and buy British inuad you will find your finances*) sound at the finish.” With these words, Mr L. A. Paish, his .Majesty’s Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, ended a statement of the qualities of the British motor car at a luncheon given in his honour by the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday. Mr Paish remarked the enterprise of the British manufacturers who were, lie said, already leading ■tlie Americans in som’o important points of design. Compared with America, Britain stood for cheaper motoring with equivalent com fort. “It seems to me rather tragic that in such a very pro-British Dominion, the British motor car should he- in such an unfavourable position,” said Air Paish. “That position, however, is fast improving, for we are now becoming ejble i to* supply the goods that iiip wanted.”

OBJECTIONS TO BRITISH CARS

The objections to tlie British motor car were generally given under four headings. The first objection, that it had not enough clearance, v- as completely groundless* The average clearance of the British ears was nine inches emlipared with eight and a half inches on the most popular makes of American ears. Second, all models had the standard track, with the exception of the babv cars. As for that, with the improvement

o! roads, the question of track would not be of great importance in the la-

ture. It was said again the British oar was not powerful enough for steep New Zealand hills. The fact that a car was of 17 horse-power teas no indication of its power but simply a label for the payment of horse-power tax. The things which actually determined power were the sixe of the engine, length of the stroke, an 1 construction of the engine, and the number of revolutions.

THE ENGINE OF THE FUTURE

“We have specialised in the manufacture of high-speed engines," said Mr Paish. “It is hard to find foreign cars of more than 3000 revolutions; but there are plenty from England between 1000 and <3OOO revolutions. We are convinced that the whole future of the cum - rests on tno highspeed engine and the small, highiyefficiont car; and that our conviction is right is shown; by the Owl that the .American designers aie copyng mu ’ People talked of the difficulty of gear-changing, saying that they wanted a car which would take all hills on top. But if a car was wanted I to take freak hills on top, where was the necessity for four forward speeds, asked Mr Paish. American cars were only now using four speeds, whereas tlic-'e had been on British cars for years. “I am quite sure that we are doing right not to copy the low-efficiency engine from America. In the new British cars there is ample power lor every demand. When people e’ itic;so, ask them when they last drove a British car, and what was the niaito; for the cars of to-dav are entirely different from what they were even two years ago. AVe claim for the British car cheaper motoring with the equivalent comfort of the American car.”