MOTOR BODY BUILDERS

Evening Star, Issue 17767, 15 September 1921, Page 4

MOTOR BODY BUILDERS

CLAIM FOR FURTHER PROTECTION CHALLENGED. CAN’T COPE WITH REQUIREMENTS. [Per United Press Association - .] AUCKLAND, September 15. At the conference of the Domipion Motor Garage Proprietors and Cycle Traders’ Association Mr Cousins (president) said that it was contended by coach and motor body builders that the bodies of motor vehicles could and should be manufactured in New Zealand, and on each revision of- the Customs tariff strong representations for a high protective duty had boon made. Tho motor car importers and distributors, he said, should strongly resist this claim. The coachbuilding industry was unable to provide at the present time all tbs motor bedies required. Ho gave figures to show that a large number of expensive chesses were held up awaiting the building of bodies, the amount of interest which this delay cost the importers being very serious. The association claimed that under tho present tariff, with the high freights and the low conversion rate of exchange, the local motor body manufacturer had been fully protected, and 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 traction.