CAR DEALERS ATTACKED

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29913, 29 August 1962, Page 14

CAR DEALERS ATTACKED

Malpractices Alleged (N.Z. Press Association) INVERCARGILL, August 28. The New Zealand Taxi Proprietors' Federation will investigate alleged malpractices by motor dealers over trade-in prices on new cars and will press for Government control to ensure that an adequate measure of preference is given to essential users. Several examples of alleged malpractice by motor dealers were given by delegates to the federation’s annual conference in Invercargill today. A Wellington delegate, Mr J. D. Roberts, said that taxi proprietors were afraid to come out in the open with statements about malpractices. “When men come out into the open with these charges, they completely lose all chances of getting a new car,” he said. He said that drivers would not make statements about any particular garage because they would be “blacklisted.” The federation decided to press the Government for the abolition of restrictive and unfair trade practices in the motor trade. In a letter to the federation, the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) said the distribution of new cars in New Zealand was unsatisfactory, but Government interference in normal day-to-day trading would not be tolerated by the business community. “The only means of overcoming this unsatisfactory situation is to continue to provide overseas exchange to the greatest possible extent.” Mr Shelton said. The federation decided to refer the letter to the Minister of Transport (Mr McAlpine).