We Must Make the Best of July.
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We have not neglected with promptitude to investigate the bulk of the dissatisfaction with the chosen date for the Commercial Motor Show which had been brought to our notice and of which we wrote last week. We have, in consequence, taken steps to discuss the whole situation with a number of interested people of standing in the various branches of the industry. Our contributor, "The Extractor," has also lost no time in making further enquiries. It was felt generally that, if any modification were desirable or possible, it should be given publicity without delay. If, however, it were generally thought that no effort had been spared to make the best possible arrangements, then everyone should be urged to make the most of July, 1913. That a great many people still consider the chosen date to be by no means the best for the purpose, we have abundant evidence. It is a fact that not all those who sealed the decision were happy as to it. We do know, however, that the committee in question gave very careful thought to the matter, and that, if Olympia were to be the only locus, there was practically no alternative ; it was Hobson's choice. For ourselves, we had no hesitation in pronouncing the date as a poor one, a date when the year's lessons cannot have been embodied in the latest models, a date which comes on top of a round of provincial agricultural and other shows, acid when most manufacturers and users and their staffs are on vacation bent.
Our view, as the result of careful consideration, is that we should back the preliminary work of the committee, realizing that it did as well as it could with the limitations imposed. As the date is a poor one, everyone's efforts should be doubled to ensure that success, which is now proper to the importance of our great industry. We shall do our share.
As to the colonial and overseas visitors, whose presence in that week is -put forward as the principal excuse for the date, we do not anticipate any appreciable number of arrivals particularly on that account. The man who is coming from India or Malay, from Canada or Tasmania, purposely to investigate the conditions and offerings of the industry in the home country is, as a rule, in the business, and has appointments with certain makers beforehand. He could just as well come at some other time—the sooner the better, in all probability. Of those overseas visitors who come here for pleasure, we shall succeed in tempting a few only.
Rather must we regard the exhibition as a means to convince the undecided man at home, as a further educative demonstration of possibilities. The number of those in our own islands, who are still waiting to see what the other fellow does, is almost countless. Whilst the overseas consumer is of great importance, he can as yet be reached sufficiently by other means. We have still at home a marvellous prospective market. We must see to it that we develop it for ourselves.
In conclusion, if it must be in July, let it be as early in the month as possible.