WHEN IS A MOTOR TRUCK BRITISH?

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 127, 19 August 1927, Page 16

WHEN IS A MOTOR TRUCK BRITISH?

ENGLISH AND DOMINION PUZZLE FOR CITY COUNCIL The City Council recently decided that the Parks Committee should have a new truck placed at its disposal, and tenders were acordingly called, the committee being asked to consider at the same time a truck in the posses-' sion of the Tramways Department. However, the tramways truck was priced at £455 for the chassis only, so that the committee decided to decline the offer on that score alone. It may also have been biased by the fact that the city engineer’s department was not satisfied with the running of two trucks it took over from the tramways in May last, which have not given satisfactory service. One of them was in the repair shop for just a fraction over half the time it should have been on the road. The Parks Committee, considering trade-in offers for the old truck it has at present, arrived at a recommendation that the choice should be between a Chevrolet and a Morris truck. The net price for the Chevrolet was quoted at £165 15s, and it was described on the order paper as “manufactured by the General Motors, Ltd., 25 per cent. Canada, and the balance New Zealand, also of British manufacture.” The Morris was offered at net £295 10s, and was described as “manufactured by the Morris Motors,, ltd., England.” by the Morris Motors, Ltd., England.” the Chevrolet, and the committee recommended the council to* buy the Morris, making the recommendation “in view of the Morris being all British.” Cr. Allum drew attention to the “balance New Zealand” reference, and said that the 25 per cent. Canadian and 75 per cent. New Zealand appealed to him, as much as any British car. Cr. Eady asked where the standardisation idea had gone to. Their many trucks being of different kinds had cost them thousands in past years. Cr. Crookes said the committee doubted the 75 per cent. Cr. Allum: Well, if the tenderers are telling lies let us get to the bottom of it. If they are right, it is good enough British for me. Cr. Entrican: It is news to me that the Chevrolet is British, and I would like to know more about it. The question was referred back to the committee.