Curbing Of Car Imports Sought

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 14

Curbing Of Car Imports Sought

(New Zealand Frees Association?

DUNEDIN, February 26.

Prohibition of the import of cars which require more than £550 in sterling funds will be sought by the North Otago provincial executive of Federated Farmers.

A remit to this effect is to be sent to national headquarters of the federation because of the country’s economic position, the shortage of overseas funds, the shortage of new cars and what Mr J. A. Mackenzie described as the “biggest racket” in the retail trade which had extended over many years.

Sponsoring the remit, Mr Mackenzie said that more than one average family car could be brought into New Zealand for the same sterling funds as one luxury car.

“The racket in the car business has gone along for a long time and I feel it has not reached its peak yet," he said. Mr Mackenzie said New Zealand could not afford execessive imports of luxury goods. “Let those who want to buy

a £lO,OOO car do so, provided overseas funds are not required,” Mr Mackenzie said. APPROACH MADE The president (Mr G. E. Macdonald) said that an approach had been made to the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) on the car sales question. The Minister held the view, however, that it would be impracticable to have price control on vehicles as people would find ways of circumventing this. Mr W. Malcolm suggested that some of the recommen-

dations of the Monetary and Economic Council would achieve the object at which Mr Mackenzie was aiming. Mr Mackenzie replied that in the past the Government had taken no notice of these recommendations.

“I favour the federation taking its own stand in this matter by advocating the prohibition on the import of luxury cars,” he said.