FEWER CARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 12

FEWER CARS.

IMPORTS LAST YEAR.

DROP OF 9 PER CENT.

VEHICLES FROM GERMANY.

Imports of motor vehicles into Xew Zealand declined by approximately 9 per cent during last year, according to a return prepared by the Comptroller of Customs. The number of vehicles that came into the Dominion was 33,464 last year, as against 36.761 in 19.37, a reduction of 3297. The total for 1936 was 30,26-3, and for 1935 it was 20,825.

For the purpose of assessing duty lajst year's imports were valued at £5.429,875. or £356,508 lass than the value for the previous year. .The 1937 imports represented a record for the Dominion. The figures quoted represent the current domestic values in the countries of export, plus 10 per cent expressed in terms of New Zealand currency. The following is an analysis of the dutiable value of motor imports in 1938. from the three principal countries of origin, the United Kingdom, the United States arid Canada: — Unassemble! United United Canada or completely Kingdom St-tci knocked down £ £ £ cars . . 1,507,600 285,462 1,214,437 Car chassis . 3.461 328 Com. vehicles 335,817 206.144 363.407 Totals £1,846,584 £491,034 £1,577,864 A ssembled cars . . 1,285.650 162,570 8,367 Car chassis . 1.118 Com. vehicles 12,623 3,461 306 Totals £1,299,301 £166,040 £8,673 In addition there were 141 unassembled motor cars valued at £23,354 imported from "Germany, and 123, worth £9598, from Italy, and one assembled car worth £362 from Australia. One worth £39 from France, 28 worth £534 from Germany, and three worth £388 from Italy. The total value of imports, compared with those for 1937, was:— 1938. 1937. £ £ United Kingdom .. 3,146,275 3,253,010 United States .... 657.974 073.280 Canada 1,586,537 1,556,137 Australia 362 3,004 Italy 9.086 404 Germany 28,702 449 Japan .' _ 99 France 39 . T °tal» £5,429,875 £5,756,383 Britain Tops List. Although the imports of. motor cars and chasses from Britain last year were smaller than in 1937, United Kingdom products represented about 62 per cent of the purchases of this type of vehicle. With 17,360 arriving from the United Kingom out of a total of 28,380 imported, Britain retains a commanding position on the market.

Canadian cars and chasses increased from 7398 in 1937 to 7735 last year, but there was a further heavy decline in American imports, which dropped to 2718 units. The total from the United States in 1937 was 4851, and for 193(5 it was 6335 higher than the Canadian quota. Last year importations came forward for the first time for many years from Germany and Italy. " The number of motor vehicles wholly or partly assembled *n New Zealand last VQar totalled 24,350, as against 24,931 in the previous year. Of the total the United Kingdom contributed 10,988 and Canada 10,108. In addition, the imports included 9108 assembled models, of which 8158 were from the United Kingdom. In 1937 the number of assembled vehicles imported was 11,844. Commercial Vehicles. The decline in the number of commercial vehicles imported was considerable. The total for 1938 was this being a decrease of 1348, compared with the 1937 figure of 6430. The figure in 1936 was 6036. Imports from the three main countries of origin were also smaller la-st year.

The United Kingdom, however, suffered th'; least with a drop of only 15 vehicles from the 1937 total of 1531. The heaviest decline was in Canadian units, the drop being from 3262 vehicles to 2411. The United States quota also fell considerably—from 1534 to 1155. Following are details of the commercial vehicles imported in the last three years:—

1936. 1037. 1938. United Kingdom .. 1,989 1,531 1,316 United States .... 2,666 1,534 1,155 Canada 1,373 3 2 62 2,411 Australia 2 Germany j Totals 6,036 6,430 5,084