MOTOR-CARS GO CHEAP

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 36, 11 August 1930, Page 10

MOTOR-CARS GO CHEAP

SLUMP IN AUSTRALIA

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDJSTEYJ 3rd August. The story, as an. illustration of the effects of the depression, that a motorcar in running order recently changed hands in Sydney for a pair of ducks, might be far fetched.

AVhether it is correct or incorrect— the truth of it has been vouchsafed in two reliable quarters—the fact remains that used cars are going for a song in Sydney to-day, with records of/sales of from 30s upwards. Even at-absurdly low prices, however, there'is little business where deals involve time payment. The only people buying used cars freely —and this applies almost wholly to the best quality types of machines—-are those with a bit of money behind them, and with secure jobs. Seventy-five per cent, of this business is cash.

A massive, smart-looking sedan, for example, which cost £.700, and which is' declared to be fit to jday to go anywhere, in Australia, was sold for £35 cash a few days ago. One of the bestknown of the leading English makes, in fair order, although admittedly not the latest model, changed hands for £11. A big foreign car which cost £2500 to land in Australia last year, a was sold only recently' for £850. But perhaps the best exampk of the slump, in, the motor trade is that of an employee in one of the leading establishments dealing exclusively with good quality used cars. In one week last year he earned £51 19s in salary and commission. His earnings have dropped as low as £2, which represents merejy salary and a week, without any sales.. It was a-poor week in the good times that did not yield £20 or more, with an average weekly yield of £18. To-day his average is about £7. • • :

Tho impression that everyone with a car to-day is a man with a fair banking account is entirely wrong. One of the men associated with the financing of car purchases in Sydney says that 80 per cent, of the cars on the road are on time payment. ■ '■ ■

The fact that for the last six months new car registrations in the State have decreased, on a comparative basis, by more than 1400, and that number plates are being returned to the traffic, office in increasing numbers, is due in the main, of course, to tho financial stringency and its effects. The illogical system of motor taxation, however, probably also has something to do with it, as well as the high petrol <.osts by reason of the new tariff. Fundamentally, the motor tax is for the purpose of paying for road wear and maintenance, and of building new roads, but taxing the motorist who uses, say, a thousand miles of road annually equally with the motorist who run., say, 20,000 miles, is conspicuously unjust. It is the former, who, although in a small way, is paying heavy registration and other imposts for the use of his motor, who ia being hit and is getting rid of his car. The slump in the trade is bad for everyone. It means, among other things, decreased revenue from registrations; less motor taxation revenue; a drop ml Customs revenue from petrol and oil; less income tax- from the companies Itjiurlling those commodities, and from the trade ■»ener;il!v.. "

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