CAR SAFETY BELTS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29871, 11 July 1962, Page 18

CAR SAFETY BELTS

“Public Being Plundered” (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. July 9. I The widespread use of car | safety belts would never be achieved at the present "unrealistic” price of £ll for the average fitted belt, the president of the Wellington Automobile Association, Dr. S. J. Thompson said tonight. The association is to ask the North Island Motor (Union to investigate the cost |of New Zealand-made belts. I This decision was made after discussion of a member's letter, which claimed the public was being “plundered” by New Zealand manufacturers who were pricing belts 33 1-3 per cent, higher than those imported from Australia. People could not be expected to adopt the use of belts at the present price. Dr. Thompson said. There was also need for improvement in the design, he said. He had found that unless his belt was tightly buckled. it tended to become unfastened easily. It seemed the design had been patterened on aircraft seat belts, whereas use in cars was a totally different matter. He had been giving the matter of design considerable attention and hoped to submit design proposals to the council of the association, he said.