More on the Show Question.
Page 5
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
By Henry Sturrney.
As the Editor stated in the last issue of'' Tin.: ComMERCIAL MOTOR," matters in regard to the show question are decidedly unsatisfactory still for the commercialvehicle manufacturer. The collapse of the commercialvehicle exhibition has left those makers desirous of and feeling the need for a show without any ; it has, at the same time, debarred them—or, at any rate, many of them-from participating in any other exhibition which may be to their advantage, without sacrificing certain tangible privileges to which their past support of the Society has entitled them. This, it is true, does not affect the steam-wagon manufacturers, comparatively few of whom have ever supported the Society, either in membership or by exhibiting. Nor does it, to-day, affect those firms who confine their attention entirely to the production of commercial vehicles, because they are now free to exhibit anywhere they like.
Where and Why there is Hardship.
There are, however, other firms doing business in both classes of vehicle. Some are pleasure-car manufacturers, who have a small department devoted to the production of commercial-vehicles, and others are commercial-vehicle manufacturers who do a limited trade in pleasure cars as a means of helping out their factories by larger production. These, now, ?re very seriously arid most unfairly affected by the present position of affairs in regard to the Bond, because many of them have been bond-signers from the first, or for a sufficient number of years to entitle them to participation in the first ballot for space at the Olympia (November) Show. In the present attitude of the Society, if these firms exhibit their commercial vehicles at any other exhibition, they must by so doing lose the valuable asset of their position in the pleasure. carshow, and this, it seems to me, is grossly unfair to those firms who have supported the Society from the first, the result being that their competitors—who have never supported the Society, or have only done it halfheartedly, are, as against them, in a very much better position. Then, again, in the organisation of the forthcoming Show, which is to be devoted mainly to aeroplanes and aeronautical matters, not only are the exhibitors in this section to receive their space free—which, perhaps, in itself, is neither to be wondered at nor objected to, but a special dispensation has been made in regard to motor-boat builders, who are to be offered special terms for exhibiting. It must be remembered that the motor-boat people "turned down" the Olympia Show altogether this year, and would have nothing to do with it, yet they are to be met by special considerations, whereas the request of the commercial-motorvehicle makers for concessions was absolutely refused, although these manufacturers had steadily supported the Society's Exhibition—to their own detriment in many cases—from the first, and were prepared to do so again.
It seems to me. that a revision of the whole question of the exhibition Bond by the Society would be at least desirable, and in the best interests of all concerned.