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A N inaugural luncheon to delebrate the opening of the Commercial
Page 2
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Motor Exhibition on Thursday, November 5th, was held on that day at Olympia. Mr. E. M. C. Instone, JP., President of the S.M.M. and T., was in the chair, and amongst the guests of honour were Mr. P. J. Pybus, C.B.E., M.P., Minister of Transport, and Major-General the Hon. Sir Granville de L. Ryrie, K.C.M.G., C.B., High Commissioner for Australia.
The first speaker was Mr. Pybus, who proposed the toast of "The Commercial Motor Industry and Exhibition." Mr. Pybus said he was very pleased to declare open this great Exhibition, first, because he was himself an engineer and keenly interested in all technical devices; secondly, because he felt that the holding of this Exhibition this year has a special significance and added importance. We all hope and believe, lie said, that the turning-point has been reached and that commerce and industry in this country may look forward to greater opportunities than they have known for many years. The commercial-motor industry is particularly well suited to take advantage of such opportunities.
The British commercial motor has established itself firmly in the home market and has won for itself an important position in the markets of the world. The excellence of the quality and the progress in design of the vehicles which he had seen that morning left him in no doubt that the next few years will see the commercial-motor vehicle become an increasingly important item in our export trade.
Mr. Pybus stated that his predecessors had endeavoured to deal justly with the various classes of user of the highway and had given anxious consideration to any suggestion that existing regulations were having the effect of hampering the development of industry. It was his intention to follow the same policy, and he was always ready to give sympathetic consideration to any new technical advances, but any attempt to
D1.2 force his hand by the presentation of a fait accompli, would not, he was quite sure, receive the support. of the industry. He hoped that as manufacturers and as operators of commercial motor vehicles, a period of development and activity lay before them, marked by further improvements in organization and steady technical advances.
The response was made by Mr. E. M. C. Instone, President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. On behalf of the S.M.M. and T., lie welcomed Mr. Pybus most cordially and sincerely. He stated that, whilst realizing the Minister's great responsibilities in many directions and the difficulties arising from the conflicting transport interests that confront him, he was sure that they could count with complete confidence upon his sympathy and wholehearted support for an industry which has proved itself to be enterprising, virile, courageous and deserving of every encouragement at the hands of our legislators. Thus supported, it will be enabled to meet all those demands for transport which are shown necessary for the wellbeing of this country and its Dominions, and provide employment for thousands of skilled and unskilled men, this assisting the nation's prosperity. He, on behalf of a modest and unassuming industry, expressed the hope that the advantages of road over rail would be duly recognized.
He trusted that the new Chancellor will see his way to relieve motor users to a material degree of the present taxation, which is by far the highest figure in any country.
Mr. Instone gave some interesting figures concerning the Exhibition. It includes 448 vehicles calculated to be worth £338,000, whilst the total value is over £500,000. The floor space occupied is 240,000 sq. ft.
The toast of "The Guests" was proposed by Sir Herbert 'Austin, K.B.E., Vice-President of the S.M.M. and T., and responded to by Major-General the Hon. Sir G. de L. Ryrie.