Another Success at Manchester.
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It was the writer's pleasure to spend several days ill Liverpool and Manchester last week. Conversations with exhibitors at the City Hall have confirmed him in his staunch adherence to the case for shows at _Manchester. Not only has business been goad at the Show which was brought to a conclusion on Saturday last, but a satisfactory proportion of that business was new : it originated at the Show, following special efforts, by ourselves amongst others, to create fresh interest in the movement on the part of men who clearly should, for their own business advantage, become owners.
We understand that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders will shortly come to a decision with regard to the holding of a commercial-vehicle show at Manchester in 191.5. We believe, hereanent, that stronger and better arguments can be advanced than will be found available on behalf of a private-car show next year. We hold the view that the repetition of both shows will be beneficial, seeing that the private-car show of last month was considerably handicapped by reason of the change of venue, with its cramping results, but it is clear that the-clanns of the two great branches of the industry will have to be considered separately, and on their merits.
Nobody who is open to conviction by the exercise of his own powers of observation can have, failed to note the briskness of interest in the Show during.the last three days of ita run. There had, unfortunately, prior to Thursday last, bee.n an unwelcome degree of quietness, due in part, no doubt, to the regrettable omission of the S.M.M.T. to assist to provide the usual send-off in the shape of an inaugural dinner, upon which omission we have already passed Comment. It does not appear to have transpired why this function was not undertaken. Later in the week, however, and particularly after two o'clock in'the afternoons, it required the. constant attendance and attention of principals and salesmen to cope with both inquiries and definite orders. These statements are merely a record of -fact, and in no sense an exaggeration. Will it be wise, in those circumstances, to close so productive an avenue, and to lose at the same time the collective effect upon the public at large ? The matter is one which will demand serious consideration. Users, as the holding of the general meeting of the Manchester, Liverpool and Counties C.M.U.A. showed, appreciate such displays.
One other point deserves mention, and it affects both buyers and .sellers. We refer to reports Which have reached us to the effect that the Manchester Show provided an opportunity for stand-to-stand
price-clit,ting. It goes without saying that, at a show, priee-cutting can take place readily, and even in kaleidoscopic fashion, as compared with the possibilities by ..oadinary canvassing or correspondence. Several leading m.anufacturers told the writer that they had stoutly refused to drop their prices, when a buyer, after visiting other stands, kept returning with the information that he had been offered so much discount by so-and-so, and more again a few minutes later by somebody else. The older makers have only themselves to blame, if they admit the presumption that other makers who are cutting the prices are. Offering vehicles equal to their own, and we know that a little stiffness on this point did not cause the loss of certain orders at Manchester to those who showed backbone I When does the Commercial Vehicle Committee of theS.M.M.T. mean to seek a modus rivcadi concerning this evil ?;:. The subject is an awkward one, but it has yet to, be tackled.
It is, of course,' for the industry itself to settle whether the risk of increased and localized pricecutting, such as is asserted to have caused a marked degree of trouble at Manchester, is anything more than a passing P i
Phase in the movement, Is it, n any event, a sufficient reason for abandoning the admitted heraelits which are directly traceable; to the Show These benefits, in our judgment, are by no means confined to the user: the manufacturer himself is enlivened and brought up-to-dote by daily touch with his competitors and their products, and by the succession of views as to performances and requirements whieh he hears " red hot " from his own and other people's customers.