THE MOTOR TRADE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 303, 16 September 1921, Page 6

THE MOTOR TRADE

BODY-BUILDING IN NEW ZEA- . x LAND. , By Telegraph t-Ptcbs Association. Auckland, September 15. At the conference of the Dominion Motor Garage Proprietors’ and Cycle Traders’ Association, Mr. Cousins, the president, eaid it was contended by the . coach and -motor body-builders that oc bodies of motor vehicles cpuld, and should, be manufactured in New Zealand, and on each revision of the Customs tariff strong representations for a high protective duty had' been made. Motor-car importers and distributors, he said, should strongly resist this claim. The. coach-building industry was unable to provide at the present time all the motor bodies required. He gave figures, to show that large numbers of expensive chassis were held up awaiting the building of bodies. The amount of interest which this delay cost importers was a very serious item. The association . claimed that under the present tariff, ■ with high freights and loss on the conversion rate of exchange, fhe local motor body manufacturer had been fully protected. but had failed to demonstrate his ability to cope with the work offered to him. Any further protection by way of. increased duties would increase the cost to the user, and would prove a serious menace to the development of motor tractors. /