Encouraging Irish Motor Trade
Page 53
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AT the IuncheOn held in Dublin, on February 6, in connection with the first national exhibition of Irish-built Ford vehicles, which was opened in Dublin, last week, several interesting particulars regarding Ford organization and the new motor industry generally were given.
Mr. J. O'Neill, managing director of Henry Ford and Son, Ltd., presided at the luncheon, and mentioned that most of the dealers present were with the company on the introduction of the first Ford vehicle in Ireland 25 years ago. They now had, he continued, a dealer in almost every town in the country, numbering about 90. It was estimated that these dealers between them gave employment to about 1,400 persons, and that the capital invested amounted to approximately £1,000,000. Last year, the output of the Ford factory in Cork was almost 40 per cent. greater than that during the previous year, whilst the prospects for the present year were bright.
Mr. Sean Leinass, Minister for Industry arid Commerce, said that there were many who contended that his policy was bound to fail when, three years ago, the Government began to establish the industry of motor-vehicle
assembling. But these doubts were removed when, in September, 1932, the
Ford concern announced its intention of falling in with the Government's policy and setting up an assembly plant in Cork.
To-day, continued the Minister, an industry of great importance had been established, giving a considerable amount of employment of the best kind, namely, to skilled male workers.
The commercial vehicles shown included 5-cwt. and 12-cwt. vans, 30-cwt. and 2-ton (hand-tipping and forwardcontrol) lorries, and agricultural and road-haulage tractors. Another interesting exhibit was a Fordson-Sussex 3-ton dual-drive chassis, a model which is now being assembled in Cork. Considerable interest was displayed in the three V-8 2-tonners.