MOTOR BODY BUILDERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3868, 1 May 1928, Page 28

MOTOR BODY BUILDERS.

ANNUAL CONVENTION. AUCKLAND, April 23. If motor chassis are allowed to be imported at a lower rate of duty it will largely encourage the motor body building industry in New Zealand and industries subsidiary to it, according to delegates attending the sixteenth annual convention of the New Zealand Coach and Motor Body Builders’ Association which was opened in Auckland this morning. Mr C. L. Neilson, of Wellington, is presiding over 16 delegates attending the conference.

In acknowledging a welcome on behalf of the visiting delegates, Mr E. C. Harvie reviewed the position of the trade at the present time. Referring to the Government’s policy in connection with tariff reforms he urged better Customs conditions. for the trade, and suggested that a solution of the present difficulties of Liie New Zealand manufacturers was the importation of both British and American chassis at a lower tariff rate. That was the crux of the whole situation to his mind. . If the Government could be induced to affirm that principle there would be no need for concern about the higher duty on bodies. It could be argued that if this were done big concessions would be made and the revenue of the country would be affected. The association would be able to meet that argument, however, by saying that if the Government would allow the suggested facilities for the importation of chassis it would be the means of establishing the industry, and more men would be engaged in the motor industry at body-building. At present, not even New Zealand 'timber, which was eminently suitable for body-building, was used in the assembling of foreign cars, while the amount of labour involved in this work was negligible.-- What was required was a lower rate on imported chassis so that the industry in the Dominion would have more material to work upon. . Mr Harvie declared that British chassis and New Zealand bodies made an excellent combination, but they had to contend with the mass production and lower freights, etc., of the American manufacturer. He considered that British chassis should be permitted to come into New Zealand on a tariff rate of 5 per cent., instead of 10 per cent, as at present.

ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. AUCKLAND, April 25. The following officers were elected at the conference of the New Zealand Coach and Motor Body Builders’ Federation:—President, Mr C. L. Neilson (Wellington) ; vice-presidents—Messrs J. E. Hunt (Wellington) and W. Pryce (Christchurch); Tariff Committee— Messrs E. C. Harvie (Wellington), A. Johnson (Christchurch), and D. Taylor (Wellington); auditor, Mr G. Bryant (Christchurch); secretary, Mr V. Grant (Christchurch).

The conference next year will be held in Christchurch.