MOTOR IMPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20088, 27 October 1928, Page 12 (Supplement)

MOTOR IMPORTS.

IMPROVEMENT ON .1927. Tho motor trade of tho Dominion is livening up, and already there are signs that tho summer demand will reveal a considerable improvement on last year. During tho first eight months of this year 8395 cars and car chassis have been imported into New Zealand, an increaso of 1531 units, or 22 per cent, on the aggregato for tho corresponding period of 1927. American cars enjoyed tho larger increaso and tho total of 5395 of this origin constituted nearly 64 per cent, of the imports during the January-August- period of this year. In tho corresponding eight months of last year, American accounted for less than half the imports. British cars have also been meeting with a better demand, the total of 1448 in Hie eight months boing an increaso of 117 on tho number in the same period of last year. Canadian imports were very low on tho list early this year, but imports from this eourco showed an increaso in August. Following aro details of the combined car and car chassis imports during tho first eight months of each year:—

It seems likely that the Dominion's total outlay on cars during 1928 will involve tho sending of at least £1,500,000 out of tho country. Tho dutiable value of the 8395 units imported in tho first eight months was £1,212,011, as compared with £1,072,471 in tho same period of last year. Commercial vehicles and chassis imported during tho January-August period of this year were valued at £198,411. The vehicles imported were classified as follows: — Lor. and Com. Vans. Chassis. United States . .. "I f'tf; Crcat Britain .. ..30 JM Canada 28 . 33 Franco .. . a .. Belgium .. s. . 1 Germany .. .. .» 63 872 TYRES AND FARTS. During tho first eight months of 1928, £664,727 was sent out of New Zealand for motor tyres and tubes and importations of spare parts and materials for motor work in the same period involved £145,403. Following are details: —

PATENT NUMBER PLATE. 'A reversible number plate intended to assist in the detection of car thieves was exhibited to the city traffic department by an Auckland motorist this week. Tho inventor's idea is to use a hinged numberplate in tho front of tjie car, and to lock it in a position showing tho word " parking." A thief would bo unable to turn tho plate to exhibit the registered number and any car taken off a parking rank would thus bo conspicuous. The owner of tho devico suggests tho use of luminous letters on the " parking" side of the plate. Thero aro several objections to the dovice, the first being that it would bo illegal under tho Motor Vehicles Act and tho absent-minded motorist who omitted to reverso tho plate before leaving the parking placo might be stopped to establish his bona-fides and late/ prosecuted for failing to exhibit a front number. There is nothing in the Motor Vehicles Act to authorise any type of reversible number plate and one regulation provides that " the plates shall bo fixed one on tho front and one on the back of the vehicle, in an upright position, so that every letter and figure on the plate is upright and easily distinguishable." Thero are dozens of devices intended to foil tho thief. Some prevent theft and a few, at the best, merely discourage it without placing any mechanical obstacle in tho way. Front number plates are often partially obscured by bumpers and even if one left his car with the notice •" stop thief " displayed in placo of the number, tho car might be driven away by simply tying cardboard or paper -where it would keep tho tell-tale notice from catching tho eye. Although a gear or steering wheel lock is hard to beat, many alternatives are available. A simple padlock can often ho applied to a gate chango by drilling a hole between tho slots so that tho lever can bo locked in low or reverse gear. Another simple application of a padlock may bo made to tho clutch pedal arm. ,With somo cars it is possible to drill a hole in tho pedal arm level with the floor boards. When the padlock is inserted tho clutch cannot bo depressed. A «levico which will discourage the thief consists of an arrangement for sounding tho horn immediately thero is weight in the driver's seat. Tho success of this would depend on the degree of vigilance exercised by tho thief as a concealed nwitch must bo used. A simplo contact is arranged under tho front seat with spring brass. The horn is wired up and n small switch included somewhere under tho scuttle. On parking the car the motorist closes the switch and tho horn ivill then sound as long as anybody occupies tho seat behind tho wheel. If this sort of devico became at all popular thieves would soon learn to cut tho leads to the horn before entering tho car.

1928. 1927. Xo. jS'o. United Stales ». 5,359 3,202 Great Britain. .. 1.448 1,331 Cnmula , . .. 1,198 2,008 Franco .. 7S !ui) J taly .. . . • 2 220 Belgium . < 10 Germany . . .. 5 - 6,395 6,801

Tyres. Parts. £ £ "United Kingdom . . 141.431 32,496 Canada .. • . • 369.103 25,738 Australia .. » 2.4G0 "5)706 Franco ■ .. 03.200 2.io3 U.S.A. .« > .'3.474 77,356 Italy 3.845 466 Belgium .. 200 5 7i J Germany .. . . 1,005 543 Switzerland .. * . — 1 .. . 6 211 Malay States 9 — Totals . £GOi.727 £115,403