FEWER CARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26216, 29 July 1946, Page 4

FEWER CARS

1947 IMPORT LICENCES RISING PRODUCTION COSTS CONCERN FELT IN TRADE Although there is a potential market in New Zealand for up to 100,000 motor vehicles, fewer cars and commercial vehicles will be imported during the 1947 licensing period than in the current period. By the end of the 1946 period (says the New Zealand Herald) an estimated 10,000 new British cars will have been imported. Licences to be issued for the coming period allow for the same value of imports as in the present period, but as factory costs have increased in the manufacturing countries in the past few weeks considerably fewer vehicles will be imported next year. In 1938, the year on which present importations are based, the total number of cars, assembled and unassembled, imported was 28,055, and was divided as follows: Unassembled Commercial Chassis.— Britain, 1440, value, £335,818; Canada, 2411, £363,406; United States, 1139, £206,610; Motor Cars. —Britain: Unassembled, 9538. £1,507,605; assembled, 8068, £1.285,650. Canada: Unassembled, 7697, £1,212,445; assembled, 39, £8728. United States: Unassembled, 1854, £284.996; assembled, 859, £162.579. Shortage of Motor Transport

The 1947 licences will allow the importation from Britain of 150 per cent, of the value of the 1938 imports of commercial vehicle chassis. For assembled and unassembled motor cars the percentages are 100 and 110 respectively. It will be possible to import from the United States and Canada 50 per cent, of the 1938 value in unassembled commercial chassis, 35 per cent, of the value of unassembled cars, and 25 per cent, in the case of assembled cars. In 1938 the United States supplied on a value basis 10 per cent, of the cars imported and 23 per cent, of the commercial vehicles.

Car dealers are concerned about the comparatively small number of vehicles that will be imported next year. They had hoped for greatly increased imports to alleviate the serious shortage of motor transport. The public and commercial firms would not be satisfied with the allocations, they say, and they point to the number of ancient vehicles that are in service. According to figures issued last year over 82,000 of the Dominion’s 192,000 cars are 10 years’ old, or older, “The official mind still regards cars as luxuries,” one dealer said, “ although they are to-day essential in our civilisation. Importations this year and next year will by no means satisfy the demand for new cars. Many people have waited to buy cars and unless they are very lucky they will have to be content with used cars. The prices for these, because the demand is so keen, will remain abnormally high for a long time.”

British Car Imports

Importations of British cars so far this year have not exhausted the current licences, as production in Britain is only now fully under way. By the end of the year, however, the majority of those allowed will have arrived. It is doubtful if licences for American cars will be used during the current period, as production in the United States has been delayed by strikes and by rising costs. Canadian cars will probably be landed in numbers sufficient to account for the licences issued.