IMPORTS OF MOTORS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 6 August 1931, Page 3

IMPORTS OF MOTORS

A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE RETURN FOR SIX MONTHS BRITISH PRODUCTS STABLE RESULT OF HIGH TARIFF A decrease of 6354 in the number ot motor ears, chassis and commercial vehicles, imported to New Zealand in tho first six months of this year, compared with the total for the corresponding period of last year, is revealed in a return specially .compiled for the “New Zealand Herald” by the Comptroller of Customs. In the past six months 2629 units were imported, as against 8986 in the Janu-uary-June period of 1930. The dutiable value of tho imports was £388,032, compared with £1,375,158 for the first six months of last year. The total is the lowest since 1922, when the post-war depression was largely responsible tor there being imported only 1078 units, valued at £276.123. In (lie following tables the figures quoted represent the current domestic valuos in the countries of export, plus 10 per cent. Tu calculating the actual expenditure on motors ill the first six months of this year, the freight, customs duty and profits must be considered. About one-fifth of the vehicles came through the port of Auckland, tho totals being 410 cars and car chassis and 111 commercial vehicles, valued at £78,114. IMPORTATIONS SINCE 1922 Following are details of tho dutiable values of all types of cars, chassis and motors imported into the Dominion in the first six months of every year since 1922:

For the first time, British cars and trucks have predominated in the totals, heavy protective tariffs evidently having displaced Canada and tlio United Slates as tho principal sources of supply. Last year, tho largest quantity came from Canada, and in 1929 and 1928 there were more vehicles from tho United Stales than any other country. POPULAR BRITISH LIGHT CAR The subjection of Canadian products to the general tariff has no doubt affected irado to a great extent, and the return indicates that the most popular typo of machine has been the British light cal. Tho importation of one popular make from England, where a factory has been established, instead from Canada, as previously, has also helped to swell the United Kingdom total. Of tho £388,032 sent from New Zealand in the period, £257,275, or more than 66 per cent., was for United Kingdom cars, chassis, trucks or buses. United States vehicles accounted for about .17 per cent, on a. valuo basis; Canadian makes for some 16 per cent; and Continental vehicles for only .3 per cent, approximately. Following arc details of the values for each half-year:—

ANALYSIS OF HALF-YEARLY IMPORTS The total of 2629 vehicles imported in tho first six months tin’s year included 2259 cars and car chassis, the remaining 370 being commercial types. Last year 7576 cars and 1407 commercial models wore imported in the January-Juno period. Over the same timo in 1929 there were 11,247 cars and 3825 commercial vehicles. Tho total of 1457 British cars imported is almost a record, and exceeds the total for tho corresponding period last year by 56. The record period was the first six months of 1929, when 1510 British cars were brought into tho country. Canadian cars have dropped from 3752 to 472, and United States, makes from 2415 to 327. There have been two Italian cars imported in tho first half of each of tho last four years, although there wore 216 in tho first six months of 1927 and one or two Italian makes were fairly popular in 1926. Other Continental imports are practically negligible, there being one from Belgium, and none from France or Germany.

llalf-vonr Value. No. 1922 £276,123 1.078 1923 1,007,828 5,587 1924 1,705,511 9,332 1925 2,264,650 11,924 1926 2,155,598 13,198 1927 1,071,519 6,856 1928 984,096 6,313 1929 2,055,517 15,072 1930 1,375,158 8,893 1931 388,032 2,629

.1930 1931 £ £ United States .... 505,829 66,132 Canada .... 543,990 63,229 United Kingdom ... 323,560 257,275 Belgium 1,690 594 France 593 — Italy 496 530 Germany 272 Totals . £1,375,158 £308,032