The S.M.M.T. Secretary
Page 2
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Reviews the Year 1915.
Woodfine, Secretary of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, contributes on interesting annual review, each January, to " The Journal of the Chamber of Commerce." His review, for the year 1915, is reproduced by us on pages 395 and 396.
We must congratulate Mr. Woodfine on the ability with-which he has condensed much essential information into a summary of,limited extent. His comments disclose an inclination to anticipate disconcerting prospects, alike for private-car and commercial-motor manufacturers. The remunerative character of their current occupations is not questioned; but there is obvious hesitancy with respect to the consequences of those activities, and to the futurh of all members of the motor industry who have had to adapt their output for munition purposes.
Mr. Woodfine, deprived by force of circumstances of participating in the work of organizing a Show, cannot refrain, we observe, from speculation as to what might have been the " 1915 Show " feature: his verdict is given in favour of the light car. Y-Ie touches,' though only briefly, the dangerous topic of the discriminating tariff ; his conclusion appears to be that American manufacturers can afford to do business in spite of this, at least so far as motorcars are concerned. We observe that he does not express any opinion as to tile likelihood of the extension of that tariff to heavier types of machines.
One point for comment does arise, in that Mr.
Woodffne expresses the view that " suitable recourse has necessarily been had to types of steam vehicles, again necessarily of American make." The S.M.M.T. has never been credited with a particularly-affectionate attitude towards steam, and we hope there. is not here any intention to east any reflection upon We have no knowledge of new arrivals in that category from America., whereas that section of the British motor industry flourishes.
The communication makes considered reference to the fact that horses are now being steadily ousted from their last stronghold—in connection with dock and warehouse work where delays are considerable. It concludes with brief comment upon motor boats, and expressions of hopefulness as to the likely benefits ft-urn accrued experiences which will be permanently retained by the industry after the war.