The User - .Must "Carry On."
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We cannot, either on economic grounds or on a plea that the' beat interests of the country will be served, assent to the view that any course is a wise one which -has for its object the deprivation of would-be users of commercial motors of the means to " carry' on." It is essential that, so long as the war lasts, there shall be the maximumopportunity to " Keep -the wheels' of industry turning." It is likely that the-existing degree Of freedom which some British makers of commercial motors enjoy;.relatively small :though it he, may shortly be .exercised on a -larger scale. • We hope 6o. We do not believe for one moment that the makers who have for months past been absorbed on output for • the British WareDepartrnent, andwho are still so absorbed, will suffer in the end. Their last -balance-sheets have in many cases proved—as We -believe their next statements of account will also provethat " they 'have no immediate -financial. Cause • for grumbling. They have been able; Voluntarily and usefully; both to meet their country's needs and to make reasonable profits for themselyes.
It is to the period after the war that we believe makers are looking with some anxiety. This nervousness is, in our judgment, likely to prove a case of misplaced apprehension. We do not believe those anticipations which set store on a flood Of war-used _chassis: our reasons have been stated. Neither do we believe that. Ametican makers will get-any hold on the imagination or the market of British users that will matter. They will continue to make sales, and we are unable to regard such aid to harassed, users as other than most advantageous. The man who cannot wait, and who must have road-transport of some kind, will buy American-made chassis, and will, subject to his earnings with it covering the higherfirst and working costs, do well with them. This type of purchase, recognized in many quarters as being in the nature of a necessary and welcome Stop-gap, will find its true level in due course. British makers of lorries will not, we feel sure, strengthen their case or their claims if they by combined action now make the situation harder foi' users at large. The industry is making money out of W.D. purchases; many users are not doing so well. Sympathetic action, after the war, by the general body ,politic, may be endangered by extreme action. We hope none will be seen. The user has to pay high enough prices for everything at the moment. Everybody is still concerned to " carry an." Are British makers of lorries, we ask, doing 'Wisely for themselves and their own futures if they now move to force up transport costs still further, at home, while the war continues, and so exasperate users who are standing by them, as far as possible, by holding up the bulk of their orders?