MOTOR VEHICLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 10

MOTOR VEHICLES

ASSEMBLED IN NEW ZEALAND REVISION OF TARIFF (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, July 24. A statement as to tariff revision in respect of motor vehicles assembled iii New Zealand was made to-day by the Acting Minister of Customs (Mr Adam Hamilton). The Minister said that when the tariff was revised last year opportunity was taken in respect of motor vehicles imported into New Zealand in aii unassembled or completely knocked down condition to provide for lower duties than the duties applicable in respect of sud! vehicles imported completely set up. This was done with the object of encouraging the assembly of motor vehicles in the Dominion, thus providing employment for large numbers of New Zealanders and greater use of locally manufactured materials in the completion of vehicles. The Customs Act empowered the Minister of Customs to determine the goods which may be entered as unassembled or completely knocked down motor vehicles, and in the New Zealand Gazette of October 18, 1934, were published the determinations of the Minister with respect to the goods which might be so entered. These determinations were to be revoked as from August 31 next, and new determinations made on December 4 last and published in the Gazette of December 6 were to come into force on September 1 next. During the recent visit of Mr Coates to tlie United Kingdom the question was further investigated, and it had now been decided to allow under certain conditions the bodies for passenger motor vehicles (pther than omnibuses) to be imported in the fprm of a shell, the seat i springs to be imported assembled in a metal frame and the upholstery materials (of other than wool) to be imported cut to shape, but with no further process of manufacture other than that of, the preliminary sewing performed thereon. Plain or machined metal panels not being built up for the manufacture of " all steel" cabs for commercial trucks or delivery vans would also be admitted at lower duties if imported with the unassembled chassis with which they were to be used. The determinations which were made on December 4 last would be cancelled, and new determinations to give effect to the decision of the Government would be published when Mr Coates returned to the Dominion. It was confidently expected/ that the new conditions would result in practically all manufacturers of motor vehicles in the United Kingdom having the vehicles which they exported to New Zealand assembled in the Dominion.