MOTOR GARAGE PROPRIETORS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 481, 14 November 1919, Page 3

MOTOR GARAGE PROPRIETORS.

Annual Conference. Points fop the Public. (Special to the Times). The second annual general meeting of the Motor Garage Proprietors of New Zealand was held at Palmerston North, Mr H. J. Banger, of Christchurch, presiding. Though the discussion was mainly of interest to members of the trade, there were several matters dealt with which are of interest to the general reader. Mr Banger, in the course of his presidential address, said there were many small places where the local by-laws were oppressive and unreasonable. He would like to see uniform traffic regulations throughout the Dominion. Speaking on the ethics of the trade, Mr Banger said the object of forming the Association was not to keep up prices, but the very reverse. To attain this object, the first thing every member must do was to conduct his business on lines that would convince the public that he was out to give that service. No matter what inducements were offered, he should not engage in any practice that was not on safe and square lines ; moreover, should it be known to him (the president) that any other member had transacted business that was not on these lines, he would consider it his duty to expose such member, and bring his action under the notice of the Association. Mr Banger gave an illustration of the way in which motor garage proprietors could help each other, with advantage to the public. For example, if the garages in any given town had an expert vulcanizer to do all the work this would be of advantage to them and all the motorists, and would be a much better policy than the old one of "cutthroat" on every conceivable occasion. Also, if by combined action they secured good through roads all over the Dominion it would be a national gain. Mr H. L Bogers said that although electrictity was not going to replace the internal combustion engine altogether, nevertheless it was going to have a great influence on the motor trade.

Mr Rogers had some pertinent things to say about incompetence. The trade had outgrown the number of efficient mechanics available, and consequently there was no other trade so open to the "pirate." He thought that some examination should be instituted, so that pupils from the college could take a diploma, and that diploma could entitle them to a extra £1 a week. If the public were educated to look for the diploma, then the pirate and the parasite would reign no longer. Further, a uniform scale ot charges for certain work should operate. In regard to tyres and engines, many statements of their capacity were misleading, inasmuch as an amateur could not get the werk out of them that the professional could.