More Motor-vehicle Imports Are Advocated

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1950, Page 4

More Motor-vehicle Imports Are Advocated

WELLINGTON, This Day _ (P.A.).—Britain’s rearmament programme is unlikely to affect materially the supply of motor-vehciles for export to New Zealand. Mr A. W. H. Brown, New Zealand representative of the Society of Manufacturers and Traders, who made this statement today, said it was expected that some of the big overseas balances created by the high wool prices would be used for the importation of more motorvehicles. “It is estimated that the present motor-car import licences will cover up to 12,000 cars in 1951. To meet the heavy demand in New Zealand this could well be doubled and the extra cost in sterling would be less than £4,000,000,” he said. “But because of possible supply difficulties, the local assembly plant capacity and shipping space it might not be possible to obtain all this.” Abolition of import licensing on commercial vehicles, trucks and Tractors would not require big overseas funds because of the limited local demand. The immediate ending of import control on all types of motorvehicles, or the doubling of existing licences, would, said Mr Brown, cost not more than £5,000,000 over and above the existing licences. The Dominion would then have the opportunity of getting in 1951 additional vehicles which were badly needed and which might be lost, if immediate advantage were not taken of the present situation. K