AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Motor Industry from Handicaps Must be Freed

2nd June 1950, Page 34
2nd June 1950
Page 34
Page 34, 2nd June 1950 — Motor Industry from Handicaps Must be Freed
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Sir William Rootes

irL a " Paper entitled " The British MOtor Industry," read last week b'eforejlie.:R-ayal SoCieiy,-of Arts, Sir: Williarri Rooks. chAirman of the Mann-fi4P,ttit*IV,Iti.''of the Society of

.2■WittaCtiirers and Traders, ...acebsed the Clo■iernments • of this country, since the dawn of the motor age, of having failedto appreciate' the' role played by. the 'Motor industry, in . . , the life of the nation.

; An exatritak of this lack of apprecia• tion, said Sir William, for which no weaker word than " folly " could be used, was the imposition of purchase tax on goods vehicles and of an extra 9d. on the petrol tax. These imposts Were bound to be increasingly reflected in the price of everything manufactured, consumed or grown in this country.

After reviewing the extent to which governmental policy had hampered it since its earliest days, Sir William said that the industry had contributed much to industrial Britain.

Car and commercial-vehicle users were already overtaxed, he said, but the Budget proposals would have a further blighting effect on transport developments. They would inevitably tend to drive Britain back again to smaller

engines, when they should be made bigger: Road transport had misted the railways in.many fields,, but unless the Colihtry co.uld hold 'or 'reduce costs, it would suffer disasters in its internal and external economics of a size which could noteven be Contemplated:

As a 'nation, he added, we had again 'shown lack of forethought and imitgination in road construction. We had to broad highways, to give a freer and a speedier passage to traffic. This speed-up would have a noticeable effect on the national cost structure, -not only through the quicker movement of goods, but through the general stimulation of trade and commerce.

Government-imposed handicaps had to be removed if the British motor indUstry were to maintain its proud position of being the biggest single exporter. Taxation of industry must be relaxed so that up-to-date manufacturing methods could he 'developed.

Once having built up' a reasonable volume of trade overseas, a secure market at home . was more than ever needed to enable the industry to plan volume production, to assist the world price, structure and to act as a buffer against market fluctuations abroad.

Tags

People: William Rootes

comments powered by Disqus