BUY FROM BRITAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1931, Page 3

BUY FROM BRITAIN

HOW THE MOTOR INDUSTRY HAS DEVELOPED. PIONEER OF THE ‘BABY.’ “During the last live years Great Britain has purchased ±181,000,006 worth of goods more from Yew Zeal, ml than the Dominion has from her,” said Mr A. W. Hawley, New Zealand representative for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd., HBritish -Manufacturers’ Section), in ■the course of ’an interview. "Ui.Mss the position :is altered the Dominion is likeiy to sillier for the reason that it the British workers are unable to get employment they will not he able to buy’ ’New Zealand butter and other produce. It should he understood that it is the workers who purchase New Zealand butter, the wealthier classes buying Danish butter because it is fresh.” E N OLA NIPS U.\ E M PLOVED. "There never was a time when support of Ehgi'ish manufactures was more necessary than the present,” said Mr 'Hawley. “There were millions of unemployment iri England, ai d unless work were found for these people the position was not likely to be improved. .’England received a big set-back in regard to her motor industry by the Great War, which caused Her to lose a great number of her best 'workers,, while her sources of raw material were arso affected. The industry was set back for a period of at least five years, but this lost ground has now been completely recovered. If ah'y proof of th s wei‘e needed it was tri ! be seen in the successes gained by England not only on land but also in the air and on the sea. "Everyone knows that the ‘baby’ car is a purely English idea,” said Mr (Hawley. “At first these cars were not looked on with favour in foreign countries, but gradually they forced themselves under notice, and to-day ‘baby’ cars are being manufactured in the United States, France, and Germany, a royalty being paid to British manufacturers for every unit produced. It is generally recognised that only English engineers could design such a model. Owing to the need for cars which are able to give good service at a low rate of upkeep, 'there is a great demand for small cars to-day, and as there is no vehic/e to compare w’th the ‘halm' for economy, its popularity d's increasing daily, and will continue to do so. CAR'S COMPARED. . “I frequently come across people who state 'they do not believe tnat English cars : are comparable with those of foreign origin for all-round work,” said Mr Hawley. “When 1 asked them for details, however, I generaiy find that they have*, not driven an English car. of recent vintage. They admit that they have gained their impressions from a car of an. old model, which they. ■ have .compared with a new foreignmade vehicle. This js of course unfair. 1. will guarantee that English cars of the latest vintage will stand up to any class of work for which they m ght be required in the Dqmiiion. “AJi; the speed records achieved by Sir Henry Seagravc and Sir .Malcolm 'Campbell are of the utmost importance to the (English motor industry,’.’ continued Mr Hawley. ‘ln all cases, after a record has been established, the engines and other parts are sent to laboratories, where they are exhaiis-. tively examined, the information ga ned concerning them being used to advantage by manufacturers.” INEW ZEALAND PRODUCE AT HOME. Mr Hawley said that the society of which he was the representative worked in close co-operation with the Empire Marketing Board, which, by means of posters it caused to be displayed at canteens in motor-vehicle and other factories, advertised kew Zealand meat, butter, cheese, honey, apples, and other produce. The. workers in these factories were informed when they were manufacturing lines for New Zealand and were urged 'to reciprocate accordingly. All the posters used were supplied at the cost of the British taxpiver, so did not cost the Dom non a penny. A very strong appeal for support for English motor vehicles had been made by the Prince of Wa.'es during his. recent visit to Buenos Aires, continued Mr Hawley, his Royal Highness stating that every car so purchased meant' 'that two or three unemployed persons went back to work. The Prime Minister (the Rt, Hon. G. W. Forbes) and the new .Minister for Public Works (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) were also strong advocates of English motor vehicles. IMPRESSIVE FIGURES. Mr Hawley expressed, pleasure at the fact that the sales' of English mo-tor-vehicles were being maintained, and gave the following figures for nine months from October, 1930, to June of this year 'in relation to the total number of new' vehicles disposed of in the Dominion : Per cent. October 20.8 November 51 December 58.7 January 44 -I February 4^-9 March 37.29 April A 1.02 May 59.74 June 51.8 He stated that while the total sales for the Dominion had dropped for the first six months of the present year compared with the corresponding

period of tost year by 57.51 per cent., the sales of British vehicles had dropped by only 18.59 per cent. He explained 'that white the sales of English vehicles dropped in some months this was to be accounted for in the fact that occasionally certain models of cars made elsewhere were sold at reduced prices, whereas prices of English cars were maintained. Mr Hawley stated that every day, in fact, he was receiving evidence of the swing over in pubßc opinion to English motor-vehicles. One such example, with which he was very pleased, was the unanimous adoption of a remit at a recent dairy producers’ conference in the .North Island from an association of suppliers, urging that in future all vehicles used for the carriage of cream to factories should be -English. “I confidently appeal to New Zealanders to purchase English cars for two reasons,’' concluded .Vlr Hawiey—“first, because they are the best value offer d, and, second, because they are made by our own kith and kin."