CAR MARKET

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 190, 1 November 1927, Page 7

CAR MARKET

BRITISH MOVES Discussing the motor industry, in relation to the car market, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu in the London “Times” remarks that the British export trade is now doing very well as a whole. One firm manufacturing light cars in England has an order for 10,000 cars in 1927, the destination being Australia. The number of British cars exported in 1926 was about 28,000 compared with 15,596 in 1924, and 3,083 in 1922. On the imports side just over 21,000 foreign cars were sold in Britain in 1926, as against 48,339 in 1925, and 22,504 in 1922. English figures are not quoted, but the writer mentions that approximately 4,336,000 motor-vehicles were manufactured in America (U.S.A.j in 1925, and 536,000 were exported. The writer goes on to state: “After the Imperial Conference, the British motor vehicle industry decided to dispatch a delegation on a world tour, as a result of a series of discussions with the Prime Ministers of Australia New Zealand and the trade representatives of India and South Africa. British cars are already making headway in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The same tendency is apparent m every British colony and dependency, and the cheaper British cars, undoubtedly the best value for the price in the world, are beginning to make strides m public favour. Difficulties Overcome ‘There are critics who are continually harping on the lack of enterprise of our manufacturers, and their negligence in not capturing overseas traue. But it should be remembered that Great Britain, between August, 1914, and the beginning of 1919, was fighting for her life in the workshops as well as on the field. During those four years and a-half the agents of ri\al firms in other countries were able to sweep all before them, and the cheaper American cars in particular were almost the only vehicles available in many markets within and without t.ie British Empire.

“After this initial disadvantage came the unloading at break-up prices of the War Office vehicles through the Slough Trading Company. In 1922-23 this price-cutting and the aftermath ot the war were followed by financial difficulties for many firms of motor manufacturers. When the trade had just begun to recover, the general strike, followed by the coal stoppage, lasting from May to December, disorganised production to some extent and discouraged buying. Even now 7 some firms are still short of material, though they have had no dispute with their workmen during the last six months. “It says something for the growing soundness of the motor industry that the export trade in British motor vehicles still shows signs of vigorous life, and the outlook is distinctly bright for the future/-- 1