MOTOR & CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1919, Page 12

MOTOR & CYCLE.

NOT REACHED FINALITY* IHow absurd were those theorists who' not so long ago were fond of asserting that the motor car had reached finality! At no time, perhaps, in the history of motor engineering have we known such activity being directed to the alteration and improvement of the automobile as at present. In practically every branch of the industry inventors and designers all over the globe are working on new ideas, and if only one in a hundred of these make good, the number will be sufficient to bring about many changes. The motor car, in effect, is too big an engineering proposition to talk of finality in it. EVOLUTION OF THJ? : PERFECT CAR. The evolution of the perfect car calls for many improvements, many refinements,' and greater efficiency with economy. Engines, gears, carburretters, transmissions, and suspensions, are open to many developments, and the tyre problem is always with us. All this in no way affects our current trade, for the simple reason that the cars which are being made find a ready market, whilst, ar. regards the post-war car, every improvement will have to be heavily paid, for at first during its probation period. The cautious motorist, will use the thoroughly reliable ' instrument at hand, whilst the enthusiast will be able to taste once again the joys and sorrows of the pioneer. Temperament and opportunity have a good deal to do with one's choice of ear, and fortunately the human race is so rich in variations that we have plenty of people who can be classed under the two main types of conserva-. tives and enthusiasts here indicated. Meantime, all the constant striving after improvement in tha cars will stimulate interest and unfold new advantages from motoring, thus bringing in new recruits.

, JAPS STEP IN. The Japanese propose to employ their large engineering shops, erected to deal with the munition requirements of the Allies, for motor car construction. The same usage will be made of the naval repair shops. Engineer delegates have already been sent by the interests concerned to the United States to learn the secrets of quantity production, the intention being to market light cars at very competitive prices.

Many car manufacturers may see nothing in this. They may smile easily, and say that probably these vehicles will be made of bamboo and rice paper, and real competition need not be apprehended. Not at first, perhaps. But the Japanese are quick to learn, wonderfully mimetic artists, and painstaking. They absorb Western ideas as thirstily as a sponge takes up water. The Japanese skilled worker has not been educated up to "restriction of output." He can underbid, without effort, any Western artisan in the same line of industry, and yet feel I himself rich.

JAP A KEEN COMPETITOR: Fe is independent of shoemakers and tailors; he is healthy; he can travel for a year without work on a couple of pounds. You may say that any savage can do the same. True, but the Japanese is a highly civilised man, and as such he can threaten us. He lives without furniture and impedimenta, and with the least possible amount of clothing. As to his quality as a craftsman, look how 'the Japanese have captured a large portion of the German trade in many commercial lines. The rubber manufacturing* industry is another proposition that is being handled in a large way by Japan, and-their products will in time become a serious menace to the operations of rubber manufacturing concerns in this and other parts of the world if protection is not forthcoming. The Japanese learns, works, and wastes nothing, and is a competitor that will yet cause a deal of unrest in the industrial centres if due provision ia not made to combat such competition.

AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY. It ia evident that Australians are awakening to the fact that the time has come when a strong effort should be made to make the country a self-con-tained one, as far as many of the industrial and home commodities are concerned. The time was when considerable prejudice existed towards anything branded "Made in Australia," but that day has gone. In many diretcions the local product to-day holds its own for value and service, and is selected on its merits as against the imported article, irrespective of any sentiment in the matter. The Australian rubber industry affords a good illustration. Look at the success achieved in that country by the Dunlop Rubber Company. Here is one business that through Australian support and appreciation employs on an average 1800 hands and disburses some £270,000 annually in wages. Hundreds of other industries are springing up throughout the Commonwealth.

STEEL DISC WHEELS. From the trend of affairs in England, France, and Italy, the steel disc wheel may be widely adopted for post-war cars. This is a matter of considerable interest to the owner-driver, inasmuch asit means less work in keeping car wheels clean, and less trouble in tyre changing.

I MtENCH SCHEME OF CO-OPERATION The announcement made in Prance 'that ten of the leading French motorcar manufacturers have agreed to a jsjjteme of co-eperation in the purchase ojjjj material and production of cars is of [pfljrticular interest. The scheme appears ■tojhave been, very thought out, and the jdfltaila show that the co-operation is to ibjfcon mutual lines, the object being primSajjjjy to reduce the cost of production by ,the purchase of raw material collectively :by. the- ten concerns, by; standardisation Said the avoidance of overlapping in the pEpduetion of specified types of cars. In jthis way, it is claimed; .coat to. the buyer will be reduced, and great advantages will result to the owner, by the general interchangeability of parts. An outstanding feature of the policy of the "combine of ten" will be the production of a new, cheap, popular car, each concern contributing towards the car the parts it is best, equipped to produce. The outcome of thia policy will' be watched with interest..

.WOLSELEYS TO BE MADE- IN. JAPAN. The Wolseley Motor Company, one of the largest of motor manufacturers in Great Britain, recently sprung a surprise by announcing that it had arranged for the manufacture of Wolseley cars by one of the largest engineering firms in Japan. . These cars are to meet the requirements in the East only* as the big English- concern ha 9 plant; capable- of haodliDg 20,009; cars »j««ic