Wahine Cars “Worthless”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 1

Wahine Cars “Worthless”

(N Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 2.

Few of the cars from the Wahine will be fit to go back on the roads, and it has been suggested by a motor trade official that they be sold to wreckers on condition that they are dismantled.

The first 15 vehicles from the Wahine were brought ashore this afternoon.

They were virtually down to tyres-and-glass value—and this was likely to fall short of salvage costs. A repair firm employee on the wharf said today that he thought the hulks of oncegleaming cars were worthless. Mr R. A. Mac Kay, chairman of the new-vehicle committee of the Wellington branch of the Retail Motor Trade Association, said: “It would be absolutely wicked for anyone to drive one of these cars again.

“I’m sure people will try

to restore them, and 1 believe the Government should see that the registration papers are stamped so that they won’t end up in the hands of backyard amateurs who fake things," he said. “Their parts value is likely to be far less than the cost of parts needed to get them mobile again—and parts cost overseas funds," he said. The Transport Department

intends to inspect the wrecks to see if it should take any action. The department’s chief automotive engineer, Mr A. W. Keyes, said that there was no authority to intervene, provided a vehicle complied with legal requirements. One owner present to see the wreck of his vehicle come ashore was Mr L. C. Morrison, of Christchurch, who came to

Wellington on Saturday to await the landing. He had hoped to retrieve $2OO worth of fishing gear that was among the $llOO worth of personal luggage in his station waggon. He was mystified at its disappearance, and also puzzled that the rear seats, which had been folded and clipped down to take the luggage, had been unfastened and erected.