Opening of the Show.
Page 3
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H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught makes a Happy Speech.
On Friday morning last, at Olympia, H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught was received by Mr. S. F. Edge, President., and other members of the S.M.M.T. Council. After a tour of the exhibits, he formally declared the Exhibition open, and proceeded to receive the delegates to the Imperial Motor Transport Conference, Mr. S. F. Edge presided at the subsequent. luncheon, in the Pillar Hall, at Olympia, which was given by the S.M.M.T. to inaugurate the Show, and he was intmediately supported by Prince Arthur, the Bon, Arthur Stanley, M.P., the Hon. R. Solomon, and Colonel R. H. Ewalt. The chairmen of the 'various branch tables were Messrs. E. Manville, Sidney Straker, Arthur Spurrier, E. M. C. Instone, Ilrnest Hopwood, Frank Lanehester, W. M. Letts, and J. S. Matthew. Joseph Lyons and Co., Ltd., undertook the catering with customary excellence. "Me usual loyal toasts having been givon from the tfiair, Prince Arthur of Connaught submitted the toast of " The Commercial Motor Vehicle Industry." He remarked that it had given him great pleasure to spend the morning in viewing the exhibits. He was himself the proud possessor of two pleasure cars, and since the recent announcement in regard to himself his mind had naturally turned towards the acquisition Of a two-seater, rather than towards the class of Vehicle which he had been examining. (Laughter and loud applause.) It was the Heavy Motor Car Order of 1904, issued under time l003 Motor Car Act, that had enabled manufacturers to make rapid progress. With lime abolition of the old legal restrictions, the demand for commercial-motor vehicles had gradually exceeded the supply, and for several years there had been a ontinual extension of existing factories and succesbive developments on the commercial-vehicle side of 1.he industry, which at one time catered only for the. pleasure-car owner. Prince Arthur then proceeded to review certain points in connection with earlier exhibitions, and some particular aspects of the present one. He congratulated Mr. Wyatt, the seeretary of the Imperial Motor Transport Conference, in respect of the heavy amount of work which he had
done in connection with that interesting section, from which so much was expected. It had given him great satisfaction to receive so many visitors who represented our great Dominions and Colonies beyond the seas, and it. now gave him additional pleasure to wish success to the Exhibition.
Mr. Edge, in replying, protested against the view that the industry could be overwhelmed by the increase in the price of petrol. He thought the reductions in the prices for tires, of which he quoted examples, had more than coinpensated for the fuel increase. There was, roughly speaking, an increase of 10,000,000 tons a year in the total of goods to be carried in this country alone, and much of that increase could not be carried by the railways owing to congestion and high rates. The horse was too slow, and relatively too delicate. In some places, the horses all died off at once or in large numbers. He had seen this himself, recently, in South Africa, and that was a typical case. The growth of the industry, and the extended use of the vehicles, both at Home and Overseas, was in a large measure due to the fact that Sheffield and other places were supplying steels and materials of qualities unknown a few years ago, and which would satisfactorily resist vibration and other stresses. The manufacturers were thus able to give the public lighter vehicles for the same. duties as the earlier heavier ones, but which vehicles were better, and never stopped. So far as commercial motors -were concerned, this country stood absolutely' at the head of the World to-day. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
Mr. E. Manville then submitted the toast of "Time Visitors," to which the hon. Arthur Stanley, M.P., responded.
Roads and Traffic.
Certain 2noirn!'s eonnedry7 with. the aqews of the Carina in rospeot of row/8 a of woicr trajfio deorgopmplits, whieh we had hoped to r.lerd this week; connot at present fooll the satifret of we art iel?.7.