The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-11-13
BACKS ENGLISH.
DUTY ON j. s.
{ A R s
Sir William Let's Cites Heavy
Tax as Actual Stimulus
to Market

The British autOmoDlIe market
holds a great opportunity for Amer
lean manufacturers who approach
| it with a full realization OF its pos
sibilities and its problems, accord
| ing to Sir William Let's, veteran
| automobile manufacturer and presi-
dent of the WHY'S Overland Crossley
Company, of Manchester, England.
/ Sir William. now on his twenty
sixth visit to America. recently was
elected president of the Society OF
t Motor Manufacturers and Traders
o. Great Britain. the highest offlce
open to any member Of the auto
mobile industry. Owing to his great
experience, his unusually interna-
tional viewpoint, and his authorita-
tive position among British manu-
] facturers, the optimistic and con-
structive views expressed by Sir
William Let's at this time are Of
| particular interest. and importance.
McKenna Duties.
'The McKenna duties Of SO 1-3
per cent on motor cars imported
into Great Britain, which have re-
Gently been reimposed, contrary to
a rather common impression, should
stimulate and greatly improve the
opportunities Of the British market.
obviously, the development OF
the British market for automobiles
must depend fundamentally upon
the prosperity and steady employ.
ment Of the British workman. BY
placing protective tariff on auto
mobiles, Great Britain gives her do
ntestic manufacturers an oppor-
tunity to develop large volume
OF business and to keep domestic
H@@k s.aAx
the pockets OF workmen the means
Of purchasing automobile transpor-
tation.
Those American manufacturers
who have studied this situation
realize that their opportunity in
this market lies in the establish
ment Of British factories to build
in Great Britain cars which have
the economies and advantages OF
your volume production and Amert'
can design. .
The firm establishment Of WHY'S.
Knight and Overland automobiles
in the British market, through the
organization in 1920 OF the WHY'S.
Overland Crossley Company, was
cited by Sir William as a typical
example.
when John N. WHY'S estab-
lished in 1920 the Willys-O Overland
Crossley Company, with a large pro-
portion Of British capital. to build
the Overland car by British work.
men with British material. he laid
the foundation for the present
popularity OF Wfllys-O Overland prod
ucts In Great Britain.
Found Great Enthusiasm
.'In Mr.. why's recent visit with
me to the WiIlys-O Overland agents
Throughout Europe. we found every.
where the greatest enthusiasm Tor
the new WillYs-Knigh Six and tn9.
new Overland Six. The first de-
livery Of 200 Of the Overland Skies
In the British market was absorbed
instantly, and II has been fire.
onently spoken of as one Of the
most beautiful cars this year in
'aThe British company also has
developed the commercial vehicle,
the Overland one.ton truck, to an
amazing degree. Sales in this COM
mercial field are constantly increas-
Ing. The British-built Overland
fOur-cylinder model Of low price,
great economy and excellent design
10 now seen with great frequency
on every British road.
III COURSE aPPA SCAdbCB SA4O Oh
William, that a very measurable
portion Of the success Of the Brit
ish company today is a reflection
of the wonderful success OF the
WHY'S Overland company in Amer
lea. I understand that the assets
Of this company have been in
creased more than $50. 900 600 within
the past three years. We cannot
hope to think Of figures such as
these in our British company for
some time to come, but the market
In Great Britain will develop just as
It has developed over here-through
the development Of the motor car
as a fundamental economy in trans
portation, and I am convinced that
such far-seeing leaders OF American
automobile manufacturing as John
N. WHY'S are going to reap
great reward for their foresight in
linking up their manufacturing in
timately on a sound economic basis
with the domestic interests Of Great
Britain"
Colonel Hacking Present
With Sir William Let's on his
visit to America this year was
Colonel Hacking. secretary Of the
Society Of Motor Manufacturers and
Traders, who paid his first visit
to America in a series of visits to
the various important motor car
manufacturers of this country.
Amusement at the degree to which
standardized production has reduced
| costs OF motor car manufacturing
in America was expressed by
Colonel Hacking.
Sir William expects to return to
England on September 5. after
spending some time at the great
IWillys-Overland plants in Toledo
| and other automobile factories,
studying the development of the
past twelve months in manufactur-
| Ing details and methods,
The Society of Motor Manufac-
turers and Traders. of which Sir
William Let's is president, now
comprises 100 members, including
| approximately 100 British manufac-
\ tUrera of cars and cOYVfnarcioi Ve-