MOTOR-CARS FROM DOLLAR AREAS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26396, 14 April 1951, Page 2

MOTOR-CARS FROM DOLLAR AREAS

* HUGE DEMAND TO BE % SATISFIED”

REQUEST FOR GREATER IMPORTATION

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. April 13. The chairman of the action committee of Federated Farmers (Mr R. G. Buckleton) said to-day that while his organisation was pleased to see the allocation of dollars for much-needed motor-cars, everyone should realise that because of the complete interruption of importations of dollar cars there was a huge demand to be satisfied. His committee had learned that up to October 31, approximately 780 Q passenger cars and 2700 light trucks could be made available to the New Zealand market. The committee had met the Government on Wednesday and had urged that because of the unsettled international situation it would be good business for New Zealand to take up as much as possible of this allocation, even if this meant anticipating next year’s supplies. The supply position in North America, he added, was deteriorating because of the demands made by the Governments of Canada ana the United States for the stock-piling of war materials. There was no doubt that on many of New Zealand’s poorer roads the American type of car waS essential, and this applied to other users of motor vehicles as well as farmers.

Another point was that Britain's defence preparations were bound to tighten up exports of motor vehicles. New Zealand should not be caught in the future, as she had been in 1939. Mr Buckleton said he had been told that Australia had received 15,000 cars from dollar sources last year, and South Africa 5000. There apneared to be a strong case for New Zealand to give greater consideration to the importation of cars and trucks.