FEWER CARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23734, 15 February 1939, Page 3

FEWER CARS

DECLINE IN IMPORTS DROP OF £356,508 LAST YEAR BRITISH MODELS POPULAR A decline of approximately 9 per cent, in the number of motor vehicles imported into New Zealand occuned last year, compared with the record total for 1937, according to a return prepared by the Comptroller of Customs. There were 33,464 vehicles brought into the Dominion last year, against 36,761 in 1937, a decline of 3297. The total for 1936 was 30,265 and for 1935 it was 20.825. The 33,464 vehicles imported last year were valued for purposes of assessing duty at £ 5 -429.375 which represents a decline of £356,508 c pjnpared with the dutiable value of the iswf imports. In that vear the value of motor vehicles imported. fcOjJob.dßd, was a record for New Zealand, the total being very substantially above the 1920 record of £4,278,000. The figures quoted represent the current doniestic values in the countries of export, plus 10 per cent, expressed in terms of New Zealand currency Values Analysed The following is an analysis of the dutiable value of motor Imports in 1938. from the three principal countries of origin—the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada:—

In addition, thqre were 141 unassembled motor cars valued at £23,354 imported from Germany and 123. worth £9598, from Italy, and one assembled car worth £362 from Australia, one worth £39 from France, 28 worth £534 from Germany, and three worth £3BB from Italy. The total value of imports, compared with those for 1937, was:— 1938 1937 United Kingdom .. 3,140,275 3,253,010 United States .. .. 657,974 973,280 Canada 1,586,537 1,556.137 Australia 362 3,004 Italy 9.986 404 Germany 28,702 449 Japan .. .... France 39 Totals 5,429.875 5.786,383 Large British Quota Although the number of motor cars and chassis imported from Britain last year was smaller than in 1937, United Kingdom products represented about 62 per cent, of the purchases of this type of vehicle. With 17,630 motor cars and chassis from the United Kingdom out of a total of 28,380 imported, Britain’s commanding position in the New Zealand market remains unchallenged. Canadian cars and chassis increased from 7398 in 1937 to 7735 last year, but there was a further heavy decline in American car imports, which dropped to 2718 units. The United States total for 1937 was 4851. and for 1936 it was 6335. higher than the Canadian quota. Cars from Germany An interesting development last year was the importation for the first time for many years of an appreciable number of motor vehicles from both Germany and Italy. The 169 German cars were probably a result of the Dominion’s trade treaty with Germany. There were 24,356 motor vehicles wholly or partly assembled in New Zealand last year, against 24,931 in 1937, 3 slight decline. Of the total, the United Kingdom contributed 10.988, and Canada 10.108. In addition, the imports included 9108 assembled models, of which 8158 were from the United Kingdom. In 1937 the number of assembled vehicles imported was 11,844.

Following are details of the motor car and car chassis imports for the past

Commercial Models The decline in the number of commercial vehicles imported was considerable, the total for 1938 being only 5084. a decrease of 1346 compared with the 1937 figure of 6430, The total was also less than that of 6036 for 1936. Imports from the three main countries of origin all were smaller last year, but the United Kingdom suffered least, with a drop of only 15 vehicles, from 1531 in 1937 to 1516. The heaviest decline was in Canadian units, which dropped from 3262 vehicles to 2411, while the United States quota also fell considerably, from 1534 to 1155. Following are details of the commercial vehicles imported in the last

United Kingdom. £ United States. £ Canada. £ Unassembled or completely knocked down cars , 1,507,606 285,462 1.214,457 Car chassis 3,461 328 — Com vehicles 335.817 206,144 363,407 Totals , 1,846.884 491.934 1,577.864 Assembled cars , 1,285,650 162,579 8,367 Car chassis 1,118 — — Com. vehicles 12,623 3,461 306 Totals .. , 1,299,391 166,040 8,673

three years’— United Kingdom 1936 13.321 1937 18,079 193S 17,630 United States .. 6.335 4,851 2.718 Canada .. ,, 4.572 7.398 7,735 Italy — 3 126 J spsn • • «• • • • • 1 1 1 France .. .< M — — Germany .. .. • • — — 189 Australia .. .. •• —■ — Totals .. .. 24.229 30.331 28,380

three years:— 1936 1937 1938 United Kingdom 1,989 1,531 1,818 United States .. .. 2,666 1,534 1,155 Canada . .. .. 1,373 3,262 1,411 Australia .. .. — 2 —* Germany .. .. .. — 1 Totals .. .. 6,036 6.430 8,084