COST OF REPAIRS TO CARS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26986, 11 March 1953, Page 12

COST OF REPAIRS TO CARS

INSURANCE COMPANIES “TAKEN FOR RIDE” (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, March 10. Allegations that the retail motor repair trade was “loading” insurance companies with a 10 per cent, additional penalty were made by Mr J. Griffiths (Auckland) at the annual conference of the New Zealand Motor Body Builders’ Union. “Everyone takes the insurance companies for a ride.” he said, “but if we don’t look after them the effect on the motor repair business will be disastrous.” Mr Griffiths moved that the conference resolve not to give discount in any form to any garage or member of the motor retail trade throughout New Zealand. “You would have the backing of the insurance companies, and the garages couldn’t do anything about it. “They are taking our panel beaters from us, too, and paying them £lB to £2l a week,” he said. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Mr Griffiths said at the outset that he wished to warn the conference of the way in which insurance companies were being “loaded.” In Dunedin a garage had “loaded” its bill by 40 per cent. “Auckland is as bad, if not worse,” he continued. “Insurance companies are paying out accident claims in excess of the premiums they are getting. One company I know is going completely out of the motor insurance business, and others are accepting car risk only if they are given a comprehensive cover on the house, furniture, and so on. You can’t blame them. Today every company is losing money on its comprehensive motor claims.”