INCREASE IN IMPORTS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21707, 14 February 1936, Page 19

INCREASE IN IMPORTS

More Gars From Britain

ASSEMBLING IN LOCAL

FACTORIES

Motor vehicles to the number 20,845; which were valued for duty at £3,207,430. wore imported into New Zealand last year, compared witn 14,415 vehicles valued at £1,809,574 in . 1934. Of the total 3001 were commercial vehicles, compared with 2688 . in 1934. Of these vehicles 12H came from the United States, 920 from Great Britain,; and 67 from Canada. Following is an analysis, prepared by the Comptroller of Customs, of the dutiable value of motor imports m 1935 ‘ United United _ Kingdom. States. Canada. £ £ £ Un a ssembied or completely knocked d •. 326,778 519,280 82 Car chassis 35,308 10,915 CW vehlcles 216,905 151,145 108,961 Totals .. 578,991 681,340 109,043 Assembled— ' £ ' £ Cars .. 1.203,636 184,610 438,664 Car chassis 1,839 1,610 493 ' vehicles .5,180 404 1,616 Totals , .. 1,210.655 186,624 440,783 The total value of imports from the three sources, compared witn tnose ot ,934 ' are; 1935. 1934. £ £ United Kingdom .. 1.789,646 967,977 United States . 367,964 477,662 Canada .. 549.826 358,035 Totals .. 3,207,4361,809,574 Assembling in New Zealand A feature of last year’s figures is the remarkably high percentage of vehicles assembled in New Zealand. Of the 20,845 machines imported, 11,317 were already assembled and 9528 were assembled in the Dominion. This figure is likely to be considerably higher next year, as preparations are now in hand in Wellington for the erection of an assembly plant for one of the largest manufacturers in the world. In the passenger car field united States factories supplied the bulk of the unassembled cars, but imports of cars assembled in the United Kingdom were nearly double those of assembled cars from the United States and Canada. Britain appears to be obtaining a much stronger footing in the New Zealand market every year. Her share in 1935, on the value of the imports, was approximately 55 per cent., the figure for 1934 being 53 per cent. Canada’s share of the business has diminished considerably, several leading makes of cars formerly imported from Canada now coming from English factories.