THE MOTOR MARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE MOTOR MARKET.

HEAVY IMPORTATIONS. Even after allowance is made for slow winter trade, motor vehicle sales during the next three mouths will bring New Zealand's motor fleet up to 200,000 vehicles. Tlio census up lo March 31 last revealed that there wero 196,579 cars, trucks, buses, and motor-cycles in the Dominion. Over 17,500 of the number are out of service with obsolete licences and number plates, and this total gives an indication of the overstocking with secondhand cars which has occurred. As long as there continues to bo a demand for the six or seven-year-old car at prices from £2O to £SO, it seems that this large figure will show Jittle alteration. As fast as second-hand cars aro sold into service again, they aro replaced by trade-in vehicles, replacement sales being responsible for such a large proportion of the now car business just now. Unfortunately tlio New Zealand Motor Trade Association's scheme last year for the stabilisation of the second-hand market failed. Some system of uniformity in prices would certainly result in the purging of the ranks of old cars, and there would lie more scrapping of worthless material. At present almost any car which will move under its own power appears to have a value. The value is artificial, but under the present system of trading-in with ono dealer endeavouring to outbid another to make a new car sale, the old vehicle is allowed lor at a price which will not permit scrapping, So the circulation continues—from garage lo optimistic owner, and eventually back to the garage. Imports of new vehicles during the first two months of this year were very heavy. The total was 5308 cars, chassis, and com-, mercial vehicles, as compared with 1791 for January and February of 1928. Car imports were valued at £589,388 for the two months, car chassis at £15.757, complete commercial vehicles at £25,518, and commercial chassis at £152,751. Following are details of the imports for the two months : CARS. Complete Chassis only. No. No. Canada . . 1,927 United State'i . . 1.-lliti l'.> Great Britain . . 002 3S Belgium 2 7 3,897 107 COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. Complete Chassis. Canada . . . • 201 4G9 United States . . 8 46'J Oreut Britain .. I! 112 Belgium .... 1 212 1,092

COMPULSORY INSURANCE. I'here arc traps for the unwary in the compulsory insurance which is now being issued to motorists. Drivers are warned to read the schedule of fees very carefully. Unless care is exercised there will Lie 'mistakes where private cars are used for business. The fee for a motor-car used purely for pleasure is £l, but if the vehicle is used only occasionally " for the purposes of any trade or business" the rate is £1 10s. The cars of doctors and social workers are excepted. Hundreds of drivers, may unwittingly make a false declaration in this respect, and a penalty up to £lO a day is provided. Further, if a car for which a £1 premium has been paid is used for business, the insurance office may recover the amount of any claim from the owner. The motorist may also become liable for the full cost of any claim if he admits liability, or makes an offer without consent of the insurance company. Compulsory insurance is not intended to provide a benevolent, fund for distribution to persons who may be injured through own carelessness. It does not furnish compensation if there has been no negligence on the part of the driver. For instance, an intoxicated pedestrian who reels into the patli of a car has no claim. A " jay-walker" who puts a driver in a position where accident is unavoidable has no right to compensation. On the other hand the insurance remains with the car for the period of the number plates, and it is effective whether the vehicle is driven by the owner or by some irresponsible or unauthorised person. It is important that (he owner of ,i private car should remember that if lie has paid a fee of £1 he commits an offence if he lends his car to a friend who uses it for a few hours fo follow any activity in connection with a trade or business.

NEW NUMBER PLATES. Hundreds of Auckland motorists obtained the new blue and white number plates this week in order to avoid the waiting, which will be inevitable for those who wait until the eleventh hour. It is illegal to fit the new numbers until the end of May, and it would certainly be risky to use them immediately. The objection to immediate use is that during the relicencing weeln the records are in a state of flux and there might be complications in the identification of a number in a bad light in the event of an alleged offence. The bolt hole.', in the new plates coincide with those of the expiring numbers and the change over should not occupy the motorist for more than five minutes. A number of drivers leave this fitting to garages and the change can be made with safety a few days before the end of next month. Some discretion is shown by the law in this matter as it is recognised that although the new numbers are not legal until June 1, the appearance of a few hundreds on the streets gives a hint o those who are procrastinating.