THE MOTOR IN NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1925, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MOTOR IN NEW ZEALAND.

ONE FOR EVERY THIRTEEN PEOPLE. OVER 100,000 REGISTERED. IMPORTATIONS STEADILY INCREASING. The registration of the Dominion's motor vehicles brings vividly before us the remarkable part these conveyances are playing in the business and community life of the country. At the beginning of the year there were 104,500 registered motor vehicles in New Zealand and large as these figures are it may occasion some surprise to find that per head of population New Zealand is the second largest motor-owning populace of the world- With one motor vehicle for every thirteen people we are second only to the greatest of all motorowning nations—America —which boasts siie for every seven of its people. The .ide of motor vehicles has flowed into jur ports at a terrific speed of recent years, but it is apparent that it has not yet reached high tide for the figures :overing the first six months of this year indicate that last year's record will :c exceeded. The history of motor ownership among he nations of the world during the ast two and a-half decades is most iiiminating, the dominant feature being he manner in which the United States, > ith practically no motor vehicles at all, ,as risen to the forefront and has so far titstripped all competitors, that there ire now on her soil 87 per cent of the vorld's total. In 1902 America had only .14 cars against 6253 in Great Britain, aid 23,711 in France, the latter country hen being the leader of the world's aitomobile industry. Since that date \ hat a remarkable and amazing change las taken place. The latest statistics it the end of 1924, in connection with .lie automobile industry showed that :here were 17,000,000 motor vehicles ihere comprising 15,200,000 passenger vehicles and 1,800,000 motor trucks.—The f otal world registration was 21 millions. The diversion of the motor industry to the manufacture of war equipment in France and England and the mass production methods of America were two predominant factors which had given her such a big lead over all competitors. According to this year's registration in New Zealand there were 104,500 motors of all kinds in the country— quite an insignificant quota in comparison with the titanic total of America. But it is when these figures are considered on a population basis that their true significance manifests itself. The census of 1924 showed the Dominion's population to be 1,343.853, and to-day it is probably about 20,000 more. Consequently one person in thirteen, inclusive of the Maori, owns a motor vehicle of some kind. Last year the rate of importations increased to a record extent, being about 5000 more than during the previous twelve months, while their value increased by a million sterling. The value of the imports in 1924 was £3,541,635 against £2,416,985 in the previous year and £881,137 in 1922. The number of vehicles represented in the three years was respectively 18,629, 13.950 and*3999. There was a falling off in the number of motor bicycles which are included in the main totals, but still their numbers were large. For the year 1924 the cycles imported numbered 2296 of a value of £131,408, as against 2427 of a value of £142,417 in 1923. The figures for the six months of the present year ending June 30 indicate that a record will be established at the end of December, for the importations are increasing at the rate of 33 per cent over last year. The number of passenger vehicles, lorries, buses, trucks, vans, and chassis total no less than 11.922, of a value of £2,266,027. There were 9172 passenger vehicles of a value of £1,775,361, 1180 passenger chassis of a value of £150,420, 85 lorries, trucks, vans or buses of a value of £11,921, and 1485 chassis of the same description valued at £329,325. Should the rate of importation of the past six months be sustained, then there will have arrived in New Zealand at the end of the year no less than 24.000 motor vehicles, as against 18,629, last year's record total. The value of the year's importations will be about £4,500,000, as against £3.500,000 in 1924. The number and value of all classes of motor vehicles imported in the last four years. 1925 being for six months. were as follows:— Tear. Number. Value. 1922 3,999 £881.137 1923 13,950 £2.416,985 1924 18,029 £3,541,635 1925 11,922 • £2,267,027 C Tasspngpr Vehicles othor than Busos. othr . No. Value. N I'nitort King.lorn .. 153S £430.003 ( Canada 434S 71M.72U 7 France »'>■'! 12,029 Italy 34 9,121 United States 3155 552.250 2 Australia ' 1 100 Belgium ...• 3 1,208 Total 9172 £1,775,361 11;

Why Canada Leads. It will be observed in the tables below that approximately two-thirds of the total' vehicles coming from Canada and U.S.A. claim the former place of origin. The man in the street makes no differentiation and dubs them "American," and with one notable exception this is really correct. That is to say, the manufacturing establishments are controlled by America, and the big industry in Canada, whence comes so many of New Zealand's motors, are offshoots of American firms. Primarily these branches were established to evade the heavy duty of 35 per cent levied on American cars sent to Canada. With a population six times that of New Zealand, Canada offered an extensive market for motors, and in consequence tho saving in duties was a very important factor in exports over the border. Once established and the local market catered for, the Canadian factories looked further afield for purchasers. The reciprocal trade relations with Great Britain and the Dominions naturally directed the export to these avenues,' and as Canada (provided there is 25 per cent of Canadian material and workmanship involved) can export to this country and obtain a 15 per cent preference in duty over U.S.A., it is only natural that the bulk of the vehicles which come to these shores should be Canadian output. The Trend of Prices. For the simple reason that the returns issued by the Customs Department and published above do not divide motor cycles from cars, under the heading of passenger vehicles, it is difficult to provide any definite and reliable figures as to the trend of prices of each class of vehicle. In the past it has been the practice to give the average cost of motor vehicles from year to year and to draw comparisons. To the writer this seems a most fallacious and misleading system. The average prices are obtained by dividing the number of vehicles of all kinds (cars, cycles, buses, lorries, etc.) into their total value, the result beyig the average price. But the factors in the first part of the calculation are altering in quantity from year to year and the average price, whatever other virtue it may have, is quite an unreliable indication of the trend of prices. Here is an illustration. Last year the average price of the imported vehicles (some writers have even called them cars) was given as £173, while this year, working on the same principle, for the first six months it is £192. The natural deduction, therefore, is that there has been an average increase of £21; but as a matter of fact prices, if anything, have eased during the year, the chief contributory factor being the improvement in New Zealand's favour in the rate of exchange. Since August of last year the rate has improved 40 cents in the Dominion's favour. There has also been a decrease in freights. Several makes of cars, notably the Ford and other light cars, have decreased in price, and as these make up a large proportion of the imports, it is apparent that the average price of a car has not increased this year. Origin of Imports. It is only natural that America (U.S.A. and Canada) as the dominating country in the world production of motor vehicles should have a big grip on the export trade to this country. Last year America exported 350,000 vehicles* or 10 per cent of her production, which by the way is less than the percentage of the United Kingdom and Continental countries. Of the 350,000 a total of 16,960 found their way to New Zealand ports, as against 1703 English and Continental vehicles. Great as the disparity is, it is interesting to note that there is a distinct improvement in the exports from the United Kingdom to the Dominion since 1922, a fact which can be attributed to the movement among English manufacturers to provide a vehicle more suitable to New Zealand conditions and at a price which favours competition with the Canadian the United States article. _ The increase in British importations is a striking feature of the six months' figures for 1925, and it will be seen that the number of passenger vehicles and chassis that have arrived (1603) is only -0-short of the total for the past three years, which amount to 1073 It is patent from these figures that the British production is becoming more and more popular in the Dominion, and in time may be a much more serious competitor with the American rivals. The tables appended give the importations to the Dominions and the countries of origin ot the past three and a-half yearst Passenger Vehicles and Chassis. ~ . W24 1923 1922 Imterl Kingdom mi." 490 i.;-> W I°-"13 t.-iso i,,„r iVT'v 4ni ' 7 4:: " ; ' 1247 Belgium ' '. °j' 13 Australia 3 * * Totals 3470 Lorries, Buses, Etc., and Chassis. 1924 1923 192United Kingdom 399 0, 7 ,-., Canada n.-,i) no-, onitaiv s A - .::::; *\ «i m |™»« m "•■'•'•'. J! 1 " Australia '.".'.".'.".'.'.'.'. 0 0 0 Totals 2976 1555 ~^ Chassis for pi,..,,, , Passenger Lorries. f ° r \rhicles Trucks. frii.-ks or than Buses. Vans, Buses. Vau" Bu !C So. Value No. Value. No. "value. '.' _05 £19.577 - _ .. 7 „ 08,278 04 £50*7 7:Vr -'-- .••• 3,086 — _ -',4 "o-^i 07 14,474 _ __ ]2 °-' lj 207 40,080 21 £0234 404 114^93 1 325 — _ ~ ~ lib" £150,420 « £11,921 „£= J_^_Z