THE MOTOR INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1920, Page 12

THE MOTOR INDUSTRY.

OBSERVATIONS BY A HAWERA • RESIDENT. Talking on the subject of the motor industry with a Ilawera Star representative, Mr. Adam Pickering, of Pickering, Sagar and Leece, said that one tiling that, struck him very much was the value in secondhand ears and the great prices now being quoted for new English cars generally. He had good opportunities of seeing what was 'to be seen in the motor world, and of this he took full advantage. At one large engineering works he was quoted such a price for a new ear that he wondered if it included a "share in the busi- j ness" as well. From all he could gather the prospects for over aas trade do not appear bright. The Home orders available for all the leading firms are so tremendous that they will apparently not be able to deal with the overseas j markets for a long time to come. Natur-- j ally Mr. Pickering considers this a short- f sighted policy, because overseas buyers ' will be forced to send those orders j abroad. So great is the demand at ! Home the demand for. cars and so short the supply that in one case he heard of a customer who offered £IOOO for the option over a leading English car. Mr. Pickering had the luck to be present at some of the leading motor shows—at Olympia and at Cardiff. He was informed by exhibiting firms that it cost any one of them about £3OOO to make an exhibit. The display, especially at Olympia, almost baffled description. The illuminations and decorations were most elaborate. English and foreign Royalties were present, and several of them, including the Prince of Wales, had bought Rolls-Royce ears. Mr. Pickering has a great idea of the prospect of the motor lorry services in the Old Country. During the railway strike they had an opportunity of showing what they were capable of, and their services were highly appreciated by merchants requiring transport. He travelled a lot on the roads, and considers them wonderful indeed. Second-hand cars were very expensive. He heard of one (a Daimler) for which £BOO was asked, and a Rolls-Royce £2700. Cars, he said, in New Zealand are cheap in comparison. There are many changes being made in the engine of the motor car, and the air-cooled engine is coming much into vogue. Railway travelling was very good and speedy He was able to get from the North "of Scotland to Manchester in about eight hours, a distance of 400 miles. Flying is coming very much into vogue, and becoming very cheap only a guinea being charged for a fairly decent flight. He has a great idea of the future of the aeroplane in the commercial world. The question which has become also a gag is "Are you going U)»?" One of the strikes —perhaps a minor one, but in an important service—took place while Mr. Pickering was in England. The waitresses struck for an advance from (is 0d to 12s Cd in wages. They chose a good time—-during show weeks —and had a big increase granted. The colliers are considered to rule the situation, and are said to be in league with the railwaymen. One very s:ul result of the war and the consequent increase in the cost of living was that in many cases elderly people who had previously been ,fairly comfortable and living on their savings were now compelled to work. The workin-r classes, however, appear to be well off, much better off than formerly, and were very independent. In the cotton trade, of which, being a native of Manchester, he was able to see a good deal, he found the employees practically ruled th<> roost, and seemed to consider it a favor to go to work. They made very big wages indeed, up -to £2O per week in some cases.

A big army is still maintained—a volunteer army—and the men are much better paid than in the old days. They get about 4s or 5s a day. Mr. Pickering was not favorably impressed with Government control of foodstuffs, large quantities of which are said to be going 'to Tot in some parts through bad management. Passports were somewhat of a difficulty, but there was more trouble in Australia than in England. He understood that German and Austrian commercial travellers were already able to get into England in large numbers. Talking of New Zealand produce, Mr. Pickering said he saw very little indeed, and practically never tasted New Zealand butter. Meat and eggs (Cd to 7d each) and milk were all very dear. He visited margarine works and was very much interested in the process of manufacture. In London lie Vas able to see some of the stores, and saw amongst the New Zealand produce cheese from ,El- - and Mells.