Motor imports

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32783, 7 December 1971, Page 16

Motor imports

Sir,—Automobile monopolies by intensive advertising have created a fashion complex for motor-cars similar to that existing in the clothing trade. Politicians blame leftists for wage demands when it is excessive advertising that makes us all want more than we can afford. The industrial nations use motor-cars for trading with primary producing countries as the early Yankee traders used rum and beads in trading with the Red Indians. And the impact of the motor-

car on urban life is just as deadly as was rum to Indian tribal life. It is not “ride now and pay later” for our collective obsession with autos is the major immediate problem in our economic development and ecological deterioration. The left says, plough back everything to continue the solid development of New Zealand, but the Government is encouraging luxury personal spending. This, just when everything should be going to plain essential traditional Kiwi living and the continuation of the ideals of the pioneers.—Yours, etc., PATRICK NEARY. Decembers, 1971.