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Rod Milner’s gala address

Posted on 18 October, 2014

Rod Milner was the first chairman of the Licensed Motor Vehicle Dealers Importers Association, which was formed on September 9, 1988, and was one of the precursors to what is now the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association. He was presented with a supreme award in recognition of his work for and in the industry at the association’s gala dinner at Auckland’s Pullman Hotel on October 17. Here are some edited highlights of his speech from the event: Just over 25 years ago, the association got together. Basically it was because Customs raided my place with a search warrant and took a lot of documents away, so I called the boys and said it was time we formed a union. So that’s what we have got – you actually belong to a union. Who would have ever thought that after such a small start it could turn into an industry such as this? It’s a huge employer of people of all different trades and has far exceeded all expectations. We are in an industry that gets no favours through famine, drought and recession. We live on the form of our wit and if someone goes broke, that just leaves more opportunity for the rest of us – but there’s always someone else who fills the gap pretty quickly. I’m proud to be part of the industry and to have been surrounded by such able people. I look back and think of John Nicholls, who took over as chairman after I had to resign because of my wife getting very ill, Dave Vinsen, Malcolm Yorston, Bev Purchase and all of the South Islanders. I remember going down to the South Island with Clem Clatell. Clem was our original man on Customs who gave us all the advice and fought a few battles with us. I’ve written a few notes tonight, but I have actually written them on the back of an appraisal card, which I thought was very appropriate. All we needed – quite frankly – was your money and that’s all we needed. You handed it out to us and I recall that when we needed to raise money for the seatbelt anchorage scheme, there were 500 people in the room when I addressed you and I remember thinking, “this audience is good, we’ve got them”. So I said, “anyone who doesn’t agree, just get up and walk out now”. One got up and walked out. We collected $2.5 million that day, from your pockets, and it was spent very wisely. And what I’m really proud of the fact is that over all those years nobody has ever accused us of pilfering the money – and we are car dealers. I’ve got my son Darren here tonight. He’s 30 and is the new generation. I know a lot of people in this room have got the new generation coming on board and that’s why us old fellas have to step aside. But never let it forgotten that us old fellas do know a few things, so if you need a bit of advice never forget to come and ask us because all the shit that took place in the past could easily happen again. Aside from making money, we should think of some of the benefits [of the industry]. We’re a huge employer of staff that feeds right down the line to provide work to panel beaters, painting, with tyres and grooming – all the way through. I’m very proud of the statistics that come through, particularly the road toll. In 1986, the road toll was 766, in 2013 it was 254. As a percentage of the population in 1986, you could guarantee that out of every 100,000 people in New Zealand, 23.1 would be killed. Today, in 2013, it’s 5.7. There were also a lot less cars back then – 10.8 people per car back in 1986. Today, it’s 0.8 and that’s one of the big benefits of the used importers in New Zealand. Not only that, but the fact it’s all fed through the economy. We had a situation back in 1986 when every year we had inflation running at 18.6 per cent. It’s only with the advent of Japanese cars and I’ll give Labour that credit – they did it by accident. The licence was for new cars and us old, cunning car dealers saw to it that it was for used cars too. I recall that in 1982 a Toyota Windom was $107,000. I went to Japan in 1987 and was able to buy it for $35,000. I recall when I was general manager of Subaru New Zealand – yes, I was one of those on the new car side – I would go and address the general manager of Subaru Japan. I would say our prices were too expensive and he would just look at me disdainfully and say, “don’t worry about that Mr Milner, we will meet the market”. And as I said in the book [From the Rising Sun to the Long White Cloud], I would hate to think how many sheep we would have wasted for it to meet the market. Maurice [Williamson], thank you for all your help in the past. Maurice lives just around the corner from me and he has a little dog called Waffles, who is as big as his feet, and my dog is called Cooper. Cooper loves Waffles and Waffles loves Cooper, so we share a common bond. Thank you all for coming tonight. The organisers have done a wonderful job. I would like to just mention my late wife Lee was the original secretary, who she shared my passion, and my lovely wife Shanlee, who I’ve been married to for 18 years now. She’s always by my side and we share the same passion. I’m a lucky man to see my son Darren here tonight, my successor, and I have every right to feel proud of you and all of us.