MOTOR TRADES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 75, 26 September 1944, Page 3

MOTOR TRADES

PART IN REHABILITATION

The problem of rehabilitation was discussed at length at the annual conference of the New Zealand Retail Motor Trade Association and a detailed statement of the views of the conference was prepared for submission to the Government, with an assurance of full co-operation. It was stated that before the war the motor industry was the second largest employer of labour in the Dominion. The motor trade would not only need to rehabilitate mechanics, but also panel-beaters, car painters, motortrimmers, petrol station attendants, salesmen, parts and accessories assistants, office personnel, etc. Many large factories, motor assembly works, body builders, general engineering shops, wholesale ho.uses supplying the retail motor trade were dependent upon the early expansion of the trade to its full status by relaxing controls, and to enable it to-cope with its obligations the meeting was of the opinion that its ability to do so would be .largely determined by the extent to which adequate supplies of petrol were immediately available to all classes of motorists, particularly private car owners, the continuance of the present policy of marketing all surplus Government vehicles and .motor supplies through the members of the New Zealand "Retail Motor Trade Association, and the early importation of< new cars and trucks, and an adequate supply of new tyres, tubes, and spare parts. Because of the importance of transport in the economy of the Dominion and of the importance of the motor trade as an employer of labour the successful rehabilitation of the motor trade would play a vital part in .the rehabilitation of other sections of the community, but the meeting wished to emphasise that ability to carry out rehabilitation obligations would be determined largely by the factors outlined above.