Licences For Station Waggons To Be Sought

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28540, 20 March 1958, Page 9

Licences For Station Waggons To Be Sought

"Tb« Press" Special Service

DUNEDIN. March It. Representations will be made to the Minister of Customs (Mr Boord) for a review of the import restrictions. The object is to have more estate cars and station waggons imported into New Zealand, especially for the use of commercial travellers. This move was decided on at the annual conference of the United Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association. It was also decided that support for the move should be sought from other interested organisations such as Federated Farm-

ers and the motor companies. The subject was introduced to the conference by Mr J. L. Rogers, of Christchurch, who was concerned at the non-availability of these vehicles under the new regulations.

“Many travellers in Canterbury use similar vehicles, and they have proved economical units as well as being most suitable for carrying samples around the country,” said Mr Rogers. “These estate cars and station waggons are now not available unless a purchaser has overseas funds. “A conservative estimate of the number of such vehicles in the country at present is about 2500. I know the Master Builders’ Association at a recent conference thought representations should be made to the Minister for more light trucks, and I feel that we would be doing our members a great service if we continued with a similar approach.”

After it had been decided to approach the Minister, Mr G. H. Christie suggested that the support of farmers’ organisations should be sought. Good Fellowship In his opening remarks to the conference the chairman (Mr S. Veitch, Dunedin) advocated the promotion of a good fellowship programme with allied associations throughout the world. Mr E. Brooking, 0.8. E., of Wei-

lington, Dominion president of the* Disabled Servicemen’s Association, who is also president of the Blinded Servicemen's Association, described to the conference the distribution of money to blind former servicemen. “There are 97 beneficiaries under the fund,” he said. “Of the Patriotic Fund of £25.000, cbout £23,000 has been distributed, mainly 4n the form of money for mortgages on homes.” Donations to this work made by various associations last year and announced by Mr Brooking at the conference were: Auckland, £5063; Otago, £3500 and £2000; Canterbury, £1157; Wellington, £2OOO in 1956 and £1250 last year. Officers Officers elected were: president, Mr D. R. Macnicol, Auckland; immediate past president, Mr S. Veitch, Dunedin; treasurer, Mr H. H. Wauchop, Christchurch; auditor, Mr H. Bicknell, Christchurch; secretary, Mr R. Knowles, Christchurch; board of management, Messrs G. H. Christie, A. E. Romeril and J. L. Rogers, ail of Christchurch; one member on the board of trustees of the central mortuary benefit fund, Mr J. L. Rogers.