MOTOR TRADES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 21 September 1938, Page 13

MOTOR TRADES.

FEDERATION MEETS.

WELCOMED TO AUCKLAND.

DELEGATES FROM ALL PARTS. Delegates from all parts of the Dominion to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Motor Trades Federation were present at the Manchester Unity Hall this morning when they were welcomed to the city by the deputy-Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum. Several branches of the trade are included in the federation, and various sectional meetings and conferences will be held during the next few days. Social gatherings have also been arranged. This morning Mr. Allum was accompanied by the town clerk, Mr. J. Melling. They were welcomed to the meeting by the president ol the federation, Mr. B. J. McKibben.

In extending a welcome to the delegates, Mr. Allum said that he had had an opportunity of seeing the annual report which left one with a feeling of gratification at the prosperous note, which was no doubt due to the phenomenal growth of the motor trade in the Dominion.

"We must not be unmindful, however, of the problems to be faced by transport authorities in view of the large number of vehicles appearing on public roads," said Mr. Allum. "Looking at the number of vehicles registered in the Auckland metropolitan area, we find that it has grown from 20,089 in 1933 to 32,190 in 1937. During the depression period the number of motor vehicles registered remained more or less constant, but the return to more prosperous conditions has been accompanied by an immediate and substantial increase."

Continuing, Mr. Allum said it would appear, and one sincerely hoped the statement was correct, that the peak had not yet been reached, nor wae tnere any indication that under less prosperous conditions the number would materially decline. In Auckland the ratio of motor vehicles to the population was one vehicle to 7.2.

"It speaks well for the enterprise of this Dominion that according to a statement by the Minister of Transport, New Zealand is now second only to the United States in motor vehicle ownership," added Mr. Allum.

"We shall all watch with keen interest your deliberations, feeling assured that much good will result. Traffic authorities have much in common with the motor trade, and many obstacles can be removed, to the full advantage of the

travelling public, « ft eplrlt of «o-©pera-tion between the two bodies can be maintained," lie concluded. This afternoon . the New Zetland Garage Proprietors' Association met, and to-morrow morning the annual meeting of the federation will be held. Later there will be a conference between garage proprietors and representatives of the Wholesalers' Association.