DUTY ON MOTOR CARS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2784, 24 July 1907, Page 60

DUTY ON MOTOR CARS.

Interviewed on Friday afternoon upon the proposal to allow motor cars in duty free, Sir Joseph Ward said that this applied to British-manufactured motor cars only, and that in the tariff there was a 20 per cent, duty against all motor cars from foreign countries. He stated that the reason it was proposed to admit British motor cars in free was due to the representations that had been made that the duty in the last tariff made it impossible for the average person to import a motor car; that they were available, in consequence of the comparatively high price, with the duty added. | only to the rich, or to those who were comparatively well off; that by the removal of the duty numbers of them would in all probability be imported for trading purposes and for general use. By following this course largely increased employment would result, as chauffeurs in most cases would be required. In addition, the geneT*l repairs of motor cars yearly would give employment to a considerable number of people. In America, England, and on the Continent % considerable army of motor mechanics were employed in a'l the leading towns doing nothing but repair work. Here motor cars were now regarded as luxuries, and it was only a small proportk)D of the community that could afford to use them _ for such a purpose. They had, however, developed in 3uch a remarkable degree scientifically that they bad come to stay, and the Government looked at the matter not from the point of view of their being a luxury, but from the standpoint of their being used for practical purposes by our people. They were now in use in connection with businesses and industrial work of all kinds in every country of the world, and it was the object of encouraging their use and the attendant employment that had influenced the Government in putting the British make on the free list and placing a duty of 20 per cent, egainst the foreign manufactured article. Sir Joseph said he saw no reason why the preferential duty should not be increased to 30 per cent, and a duty of 20 per cent, placed on the bodies of British-made cars allowing the machine to come :n free. The bodies could be, made in the colony, but the other parts could not be manufactured here.

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