IT occurs to me that a letter written by me, published in the Bolton Evening News on February 4, 1994, is even more relevant now than when I wrote it.
It is perhaps ironical that "the adverse circumstances" referred to have actually taken place at a time when the British economy in general is being hailed as an exemplary success. But the adversity is not only real enough but was predictable and it didn't need a genius to predict it.
These adverse circumstances have been brought about by a motor industry that has a capacity to build five cars for every four that are required.
In that situation it is less than surprising that the foreign subsidiary will be sacrificed first and that always was the predictable case. Even more alarmingly, it would be well to remember that Rover were not the only totally owned foreign subsidiary in the country, or that the motor industry still has serious over manufacturing capacity, there may well be more to go yet.
Governments too, of any political persuasion, would do well to remember that once having permitted it to happen in the first place, from there on in have no further influence on the eventual outcome.
Looking back over a long motoring career I have owned 14 cars including Jaguars, Volvo, Austin, Ford and Rover of which I have owned seven. The Rovers were the best and the country is worse for its passing.
Jack A Large
Manchester Road
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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