MOTOR IMPORTS

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1933, Page 9

MOTOR IMPORTS

DECREASE IN VALUE BRITISH CABS FAVOURED. MORE CANADIAN VEHICLES. A decrease in the value of motor vehicles imported into New Zealand' in the first three months this year, compared with the total for the corresponding period in 1932, is shown in a return compiled by the comptroller of Customs. The dutiable value of all motor vehicles imported in the period ended March 31 this year was £139,551, against £167,612 in the corresponding period last year, a drop of £28,061. In 1931 motor vehicles valued at £309,278 were imported in the first three months, while the value was £724,109 in 1930 and £1,077,664 in 1929. A substantial increase in imports from Canada is an outstanding feature of the return. Canadian motor vehicles to the value of £6427 were brought into the Dominion- up to March 31 this- year, compared with a total of only £55 in the first three months last year. The value of Canadian vehicles imported in the corresponding period in 1931 was £60,437. UNITED STATES TOTAL DROPS. There has been a decrease in the value of imports from the United Kingdom, the total for the last three months being £124,992, against £148,521 in 1932. The United States total has suffered more severely with vehicles valued at £8132 this year, compared with' £18,817 last year. Three countries which have usually figured in previous returns, Belgium, France and Italy, are not represented in • the total for the first quarter of this year.; In the same time last year imports from France were valued at £159 .7 and those from Italy at £6O. . Following are details of. the dutiable values of all types of cars, car chassis and commercial vehicles imported from all sources in the first quarter of 1932 and 1933:-

The .figures quoted represent the current domestic values in the countries of export, plus 10 per cent Consideration must be given to duties, freight, insurance, handling charges and sales tax before an estimate can be made of the actual amount spent on motor vehicles in the quarter. Numerically there has also been a decrease in the imports of motor vehicles. ' In the January-March -period this year 1 there' were 1036 vehicles imported, comprising 917 passenger models and 119 commercial types. In the first quarter last year 1206 motor vehicles were V brought into the country, 1004 cars and, 202 commercial motors.

CANADIAN TRADE IMPROVES. The improvement in imports from Canada is reflected in the fact that 31 Canadian motor-cars and chassis are included in the total for the first quarter of this year, whereas only one passenger, vehicle came from Canada in the. fco.rresponding period last year. The United Kingdom total has dropped from 873 last year to 857 this year so far, a comparatively small decrease. There has been a sharp drop in imports from the United .States, however, which has sent only 29 motor-cars and chassis so far : this' year, against 127 in the same time lastj.year, 307 in 1931 and 1385 in 1930. ... In the-first quarter of the past three years British cars have been in the majority and the percentage of imports from England has increased steadily each year. In the first : three months- of .1931, of 1890 cars imported, 1084 were, British. Last year 873 cars out of 1004 came from the United Kingdom, which has sent 857 out of a total of 917 so far this year. In 1930 British , car imports were about half the Canadian total and about a quarter in 1929. \ r The following table shows the imports of cars and car chassis in the first three months of 1931, 1932 and 1933:— '

.COMMERCIAL VEHICLES? . Proportionately, .there has been a larger decrease in the. number of commercial vehicles imported than has been -the case with passenger vehicles. Only 119 commercial types, 114 chassis and 5 complete trucks have been imported so far this year from all sources, against 202 in the same months last year, 240 in 1931 and 842 in 1930. In this section the United Kingdom has suffered the most severely, the total being 55, against 157 last; year. Canadian imports have risen from nil to 30,. all chassis, while there has been a. slight' drop in the United States total, which has fallen from 45 to 34 this year. Following are details of the total imports of trucks, vans, buses and- commercial vehicles in the first quarter of each year:—

United Kingdom 1932 1933 .,.. x £148,531 £124,992 Canada .... 55 ; 6,427 United States .... 18,817 8,132 Italy ... 60 j France -... 159 ./• — Totals ........ .... £167,612 £139,551

1931 1932 1933 United Kingdom . ,. 1084 873 857 Canada . 497 1 31 United States . 307 127 29 France 2 Italy 2 1 Totals ........... ., 1890. 1004 917

: 1931' 1932 1933 United Kingdom , 44 157 55 Canada 96 — : 30 United States ..... ...... 100 45' .■ 34 Totals ......... ...... 240 202 119