NON-ECONOMIC LEGISLATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 205, 30 August 1926, Page 10

NON-ECONOMIC LEGISLATION.

(Published by Arrangement.)

Motor Progress Jeopardised. The largest and most progressive motor car manufacturers in America, England and the Continent have adopted the "all steel" type of motor car body. This body is adopted for various important reasons. ■ It is stronger and lighter than the wood and steel type, it does not "work" and develop rattles, it is fireproof, and, lastly and most important, it is a considerable factor in reducing the price of motor cars. The body builders of New Zealand are seeking increased protection from the Government. New Zealand motorists are already paying the exorbitant sum of over £300 taxation in duty for every touring car body built in New Zealand. This is burden enough; but if it is increased, as suggested, the effect will be to considerably raise the price of motor cars, and to prevent New Zealand motorists enjoying the "all steel" body without re-establishing New Zealand motor body builders upon a practical and economical basis. The Ford Company considered the erection of an "all steel" body plant in Australia for producing Australian "all steel" bodies, but the outlay was so huge that at least 60,000 bodies per annum of one type were necessary to justify the outlay. As a consequence, the project was turned down. In New Zealand the total quantity of motor car bodies imported last year was approximately 18,000, so that even if the whole number were of one type, they could not be produced economically. This should certainly dispose once and for all of the suggestion that the purchasers of motor cars in New Zealand should be still further penalised for a project incapable of economic fulfilment.