MOTOR RESTRICTIONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20140, 9 January 1940, Page 6

MOTOR RESTRICTIONS

ATTITUDE OF IMPORTERS DEMAND REDUCED DOUBTS ABOUT PETROL (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. Large-scale importers of motor vehicles are accepting the further restriction on importations without panic. They philosophically accept the position as a war measure and there is no talk of staff retrenchment. The Minister’s official announcement of the restriction is not so serious as it appears. Although it did not make the point clear, it 'can definitely be stated that in assessing the proportion of 19.18 importations to be permitted in the next six months, firms which had drawn supplies from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom are being permitted to bulk these figures in compiling the permit for further imports if all are brought from the United Kingdom in a knockcd-down condition. “Dollar exchange must be made completely available to Britain to buy munitions supplies from the United States until Britain is fled,” stated one prominent motor importer, who added that the three largest firms in the business were all able to switch their orders to British manufacturers and to maintain a reasonable amount of business this year, especially as stocks carried over from 1939 happen to be fairly substantial. They also anticipate that the private car demand will slacken owing to the petrol restrictions. Therefore, summing up the whole position, existing stocks plus permitted imports will be sufficient to satisfy the expected retail demand, though purchasers will have a narrower choice in the selection of models.

' Regarding the petrol supply, misleading rumours relating to private users are prejudicing business. Therefore the motor trade is pressing the Minister of Supplies for an early announcement. It is confidently anticipated that the small car allowance will be eight to 10 gallons a month, with a larger proportion for cars of 12 horse-power and over, while the former conditions relating to business cars and commercial vehicles will bo reimposed on February 1.