BUY BRITISH CARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 990, 5 June 1930, Page 1

BUY BRITISH CARS

TRADE COMMISSIONER ANSWERS CRITICISM “INADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE” “I do not see much need for more motor-cars in New Zealand at present. . . However, if you do need more cars, buy British cars.” This is the opinion of Mr. L. A. Paish, British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand. He told members of the Auckland Creditmen’s Club yesterday that he was faced’everywhere by people telling him that English motor-cars were not suited to Hew Zealand roads. He had listened to a great deal about British cars, but much of the criticism was based on inadequate knowledge and experience. One man who had complained that British cars had not enough power, afterward told Mr. Paish that his last experience had been with a 1923 model in 1927. The nominal horsepower of an English car had nothing to do with that car's • capacity to climb New Zealand hills. Of two such cars on the Dominion market he said that one of 12 nominal horsepower was really more powerful than the other, which was rated at 14. . Mr. Paish admitted that English cars were more difficult to drive than those from America, but they were built for drivers, not for “steerers.” Most New Zealanders, he thought, just wanted to sit in a car, twiddle the wheel and “step on the gas.” If New Zealand would stop importing American cars she would soon adjust her adverse trade balance with America. Last year the Dominion’s increase in cars had increased by 55 per cent., and he thought that New Zealand was importing too many cars. The United States received £1,800,000 of tho £4,500,000 spent on cars last yehr. Mr. Paish assured those present that they would get more satisfaction out of driving British cars and that they would also reduce the petrol imports, most of which came from other countries.