Sir Miles Thomas , on Post-war Planning A CKNOWLEDGING the sum of
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R5,000, which the Motor Agents' Association contributed to the Motor Industry's Propaganda Campaign for 1944, Sir Miles Thomas, chairman of the Public Relations Committee of the S.M.M.T., paid tribute, in a recent statement, to the fine team spirit which is becoming increasingly . apparent between agents and manufacturers. Sir Miles said that this latest manifestation of practical co-operation was, to his mind, the most important thing that has happened in the trade in recent months. It augers well for the " get-together " when peace comes, and, probably, what is even better, it will give added drive to the " combined operations " that aim to put the motor industry where it rightly belongs —high up in the records of the Nation's assets that should be ear-marked for development when plans for post-war
reconstruction are being put into effect.
It seemed to him that the focus of control is gradually shifting from the old-style " manufacturer," with a purely fabricating outlook, to men who have mixed training in both the engineering and the selling sides of a factory organization.
Improvement in understanding is the result of a diminution in the old "arm's length " attitude of the mhnufacturer; there is also enlightenment in the ranks of the agents.
Since the launching of the Public Relations Campaign a few months ago, there has been no more energetic supporter for the project than the M.A.A. and its energetic president, Mr. George W. Lucas, who has devoted much of his time.and a great deal of his infectious zeal to give impetus to a, plan which he has long regarded as a job of post-war significance.