MOTOR-CAR SALES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 16 June 1930, Page 2

MOTOR-CAR SALES

RECORD IN PAST YEAR

The total sales of new motor-cars m New Zealand during the twelve months ending 28th February, 1930, were 21,146. The North Island accounted for 14,363 new cars, and the South Island for 6783. The Auckland province led with 7236, Wellington came second with 4661 and Canterbury next with 2988. Only three centres purchased cars running into four figures. They were:— Auckland 2978 Wellington 2348, Christchurch 1637. The best month for sales was December, 1929, with 2746. Next came November (2160) and June (1911). These figures are gleaned from a survey of the motor-car trade in New Zealand by the Charles Haines Advertising Agency, covering motor-cars, trucks, motor-cycles, aviation and incidental imports. The report covers ninetyeight towns and districts. It states that fifty-one makes of cars are represented in New Zealand, ranging m price from £lB9 to £IOOO. Apart from numerous small roadside shops and ordinary petrol stations, there are over a thousand properly established agencies and distributors selling and repairing cars. "The big increase in sales for the year ending 28th February," says the report, "was coincident with the general prosperity of the Dominion, and this factor, together with the natural 'growth of population, will largely affect the future of the industry." In 1929 there was one motor-car to every eleven persons in New Zealand. The figure is now one to 9.63. Only the United States (one to 4 9 people) and Canada (one to 9.1) are leading New Zealand in this respect, in which it is interesting to compare the provinces. Southland has one car to 764 people, Hawke's Bay one. to 7 77 'Taranaki one to 8.24, Canterbury one'to 8.52, Wellington one to 8.81, Marlborough one to 8.86, Auckland one to 11 05 Otago one to 11.28, Westland one to 11.51, and Nelson one to 14.75. Approximated one out oi every two domestic dwellings in New Zealand boasts a car. as against two in five in (he previous year. Over 141,000 cars are in active service, apart altogether from "dormant" registrations, i.e. cars which were originally registered but were not re-registered in the year under review. Canada provided 46 per cent, of the imports in the twelve months, United Slates 36i per cent, and the United Kingdom 17| per cent.