A Separate Show for Commercial Motors.
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Contract Signed to Cover 1907 to 1913.
The resistless claims of the utility motor have at last been admitted, after a not inconsiderable period of partial recognition, by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. We have pleasure in announcing that a contract for a term of seven years has recently been signed with the proprietors of Olympia, and that the first of these unique exhibitions, which will be without precedent in any country, will take place about the end of March, 1907. The committee of management of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has taken a wise step in the interests of British industry, because a separate exhibition, which will not coincide with a pleasure car show, as has been the case in Paris for the last two years, must serve to impress the fact upon competing nations that Great Britain intends to maintain her lead in commercial motoring. " THE COMMERCIAL Merroa " has not been uncertain in its pronouncements on this important subject. We quote from our issue of April 6th last (page 74):
"There appears to he some diversity of opinion on the subject of a combined versus an exclusively commercial show, but we are convinced that everything is tending towards such a divi sion It is not to be expected that makers of commercial motors will any longer assent to their being relegate(' to the background, or to odd corners, or merely to he regarded as an adjunct to a car show, and any proposal to cater adequately for the needs of the industry will he welcomed and supported We look for the exclusively commercial show as the natural and only sequel to the progress of the van, the cart, the lorry, the wagon, the tractor, and the public service vehicle."
Since that date, negotiations and discussions have been the order of the day, and the practical difficulty of accommodating all makers in any single building has resulted in this most acceptable decision. We heartily endorse the action of the -Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in whose ranks there was a marked lack of unanimity on the subject as recently as November last. We have, ourselves, advocated the organisation of a distinct show for commercial motors on various occasions during the period which intervened between the Agricultural Hall Show of March, 1935, and the last Olympia Show, and it is in no spirit of egotism, but from a conviction that g(xxl alone can accrue to the industry by the departure, that we make a
further quotation. This is from our publicly-expressed
views of four months ago, and those of our supporters who care to turn to the editorial page of November 23rd, at which date the fourth annual show of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders was in full and healthy swing at Addison Road, will concur in our present deep sense of gratification at the fulfilment of our prognostications : "it is not a little unfortunate, and certainly a matter for regret, that a large number of heavy vehicle builders cannot possibly be accommodated with space as matters now stand. The building at Olympia is at no appreciable disadvantage compared with any other building in, London in respect of the site, whilst any difficulty arising from its location will be eliminated by the rapidlyimproving facilities for quick travelling which are being brought about from month to month in i.ondon. An adequate service of motor omnibuses, for example, might rehabilitate even the Ctystal Palace in popular favour, though we do not regard that particular supposition as within the range of practical politics. The question which will force itself upon the various interests concerned, almost immediately, is how to provide the necessary space for the commercial section of the industry at any exhibi tiOn If adequate room is provided in the gangways next year, and a change from the present small widths is almost imperative, the difficulty will be greater still. It is almost impossible to move about with comfort in many of the avenues, as thousands will have experienced for themselves this week on more days than cue. The future is beset with much uncertainty, but the case for an entirely separate exhibition, limited to machines constructed for utility purposes, becomes stronger as we consider it There is the widest divergence of opinion amongst British manufacturers of commercial motors as to the relative values of a mixed and an exclusive show ; but we are convinced that any dictation which seeks to interfere with a natural development, and necessarily one whose lines of distinct growth will be increasingly apparent before another twelve months elapses, would be inimical to the best interests of the home manufacturer The President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, at the inaugural luncheon held on Friday last in connection with the Olympia Exhibition, stated that there was no present „intention of holding a separate show for commercial motors, and he added that, as a matter of fact, there was no possibility of securing the building for such a purpose next spring. This indicates that the question of a separate commercial exhibition will be allowed to stand over for the present, but we think not for long."