THE MOTOR TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 34

THE MOTOR TRADE.

NEW ZEALAND’S IMPORTATIONS. IFbom Ous Own Corbespondent.) AUCKLAND, July 27 Fifty motor vehicles are being imported into New Zealand every day. That was the average rate of importations for the half year ended June 30 last. The rate of increase over the importations for the corresponding six months last year is 90 a week. A notable record for the year is already assured. So far, up to June 30, the importations of motor vehicles have averaged 358 a week, making an aggregate of 9332 for the period, the total value being £1,605,630. Similar importations for the same time last year totalled 5587, valued at £1,005,469. Thus there is this year already a gain of 3745 motor vehicles, representing an additional expenditure throughout the dominion of £600,161. The number of all classes of motor vehicles imported into New Zealand last year was 13,944. valued at £2,421,045, com. pared with only 3999 vehicles, valued at £381,137. The average of the first and second quarterly returns this year shows that by the end of the third quarter last year’s record will be equalled, if not eclipsed, leaving the summer quarter’s importations, which are comparatively heavier, as a measure of increase for 1924. If the rate of importations be maintained for the remainder of this year, and no diminution is anticipated in trade, the increase for the 12 months should be very few, if any, less than 5000 motor vehicles. Britain has fared badly in the matter of supplying motor vehicles to New Zealand. She obtains only 5 per cent, of the dominion’s motor imports. Of 4154 vehicles imported into the dominion during the second quarter of this year, 218 came from Britain, 2617 from Canada, 1275 from the United States. 33 from Italy, 10 from France, and 1 from Belgium.