HARD HIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1942, Page 7

HARD HIT

THE MOTOR TRADE

CRISIS BEINfi FACED

"When you have got hardly one new car left in the place to sell, and when there is no likelihood of being able to get any more—not that it would make much difference if you could, as, in the prevailing circumstances, no one will be buying new cars; when the trade, in. second-hand cars is practically dead; and when no one is bringing in private cars for repairs as petrol restrictions have put them off the road; then it is high time for folk in the motor trade to put up their shutters and take to selling ice cream off a barrow in the street in order to make a living." Th*e person who unburdened himself as.' above was the most pessimistic of- ail those in the motor trade who were asked by a "Post" representative: how the trade was being affected. All, j however, were pessimistic to a certain degree and agreed that the motor trade' had been as hard hit as.any business ■by import and recent wartime restrictions. "The trade is certainly facing an unprecedented crisis," l-emarked another dealer, "and I fail to see how. the smaller firms will be able to carry on." ... ■ ■ NEW LINES' OF. BUSINESS. One or two larger concerns said that to weather the storm' it would probably be necessary to launch out into other lines. "Very .likely we shall soon be selling refrigerators or bath heaters, or perhaps radios," suggested one manager, who added that the question of alternative business was not an easy one owing to the difficulties in obtaining stocks and licences to import. It was also impossible for travellers to demonstrate any new lines of business which might be started. Occasional business is being done in the sale of trucks for commercial purposes, and the repair of this type of . vehicle is now the main activity in the garage workshops. MECHANICS GETTING SCARCE. '. "The private car is being kept in cool storage in the home garage against better times and the garage workshop does not see it these days," said another proprietor. "It is just as well, perhaps," he added, "for apparently it won't be long before we lose all our mechanics." Skilled mechanics, have been in great demand for the Army, and many a garage workshop is being run by boys ov eldarly men. Practically all dealing in secondhand cars has come to a halt, and there-does not seem to be any prospect of it being resumed at present. "The famous depression wasn't in it • compared with the position we are now facing," commented another philosophic individual, who added that he supposed winning the war was more important than the fortunes or misfortunes of a dealer in motor-cars.