SHORTAGE OF MOTOR CARS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 15 April 1939, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF MOTOR CARS

POSITION AT DUNEDIN I United Press Association! DUNEDIN, This Day. -Already there is a distinct shortage of motor cars to meet a demand that is remarkably heavy,” remarked a representative of a prominent Dunedin motor importing firm yesterday. He was discussing the reported possibility of importation of motor vehicles into New Zealand being reduced by 40 per cent., a possibility which he said was being regarded with the greatest concern.

“Why, the February registrations were a record for this country,” he said, “and the demand generally is considerably stronger than it was last year.” He and representatives of other importing concerns were in full agi'eement with the Invercargill opinion published yesterday that a 40 per cent, reduction in importations would of necessity mean substantial reductions in staffing; but the main concern at the moment was the difficulty of meeting the demand for cars. The instance of one well-known make of car was quoted. The last shipment was sold out in double-quick Mme, and now the firm concerned had to wait until August or September before it could get another consignment.

! “The position is that people are buy- : ing cars as they have never bought ; them before,” it was said. “It is al- | ready exceedingly difficult to meet the I demand, and if there should be a reduction of 40 per cent., the whole state of affairs would not be just serious from supply and staffing points of view, it would be farcical.”