MOTOR INDUSTRY’S PLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 89, 9 January 1942, Page 6

MOTOR INDUSTRY’S PLIGHT

Immediate Aid Sought BIG MEETING HELD IN AUCKLAND (Bv Telegraph—Press A=sociation.) AUCKLAND, January 8. The disastrous position with which the motor industry in the Auckland province is faced was made abundantly clear by a large number of speakers at a meeting of’the New Zealand Retail Motor Trade Association held tonight. In a statement issued subsequently it was stated that members were greatly concerned at the terms of the reply made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. Sullivan, to the representations made by the association/and the trade, in which they asked for some alleviation of their difficulties. Reference was made to the extent to which the Government bad stepped in to save apple growers from ruin. When the growers were faced with this in consequence of apples not being exported, the Government arranged to buy the entire crop at a reasonable price and any loss which was incurred in marketing was borne by the country as a whole. The requests which the motor trilde had made to the Minister were very modest and it was hoped the Government would realize before it was too late the imperative necessity for spreading the sacrifice the industry was called upon to face. The following resolution was unanimously adopted for transmission to the Prime Minister, the War Cabinet, the Minister of Industries and Commerce and local Members of Parliament:— “That this large and representative meeting of petrol resellers and garage proprietors in the Auckland district urges the Government to give immediate help to the motor industry, which is in dire straits, and expresses keen disappointment at the Minister of Industries’ failure to agree to the modest requests which have already been made on behalf of the industry. It is the considered opinion of this meeting that the sacrifices which the motor industry is being called upon to bear are very unequal and are out of all proportion to that which other sections of the community are being asked to make. Unless assistance is made available without delay large numbers .of resellers and proprietors will be compelled to close their premises. Not only do we consider that this large and essential industry should receive every possible consideration, but we are convinced that the motor industry forms an extreinely important link in the national defence.” - • ’