BUYERS SLOW TO BID FOR MOTORS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19108, 28 June 1930, Page 11

BUYERS SLOW TO BID FOR MOTORS.

POST OFFICE CLEARS OUT OLD VEHICLES. Lured by the possibility of cheap motor-cars, a couple of hundred bargain hunters gathered at the Post and Telegraph auction sale to-day. The bargains were there, but those in quest of a cheap vehicle were shy, bids were hard to get and harder to increase. Still, when all was over and done with, there was a good clearance. Only an electric truck which, once upon a time, had been valued at £I4OO, and a pole erector, valued at £3OO by the auctioneer, but not considered worth £SO by the crowd, remained. Full of pep and vim, the auctioneer, Mr R. S. Beadel, started off with a huge collection of castings. He wanted a "fiver” for them, but he only got 10s. A couple of new* motor-car tyres went for £3, while a real bargain was secured by someone who managed to obtain three new motor-cycle tubes for ss. Half a ton of worn-out and partially worn motor-tyres slowed up the sale. The auctioneer worked hard, but bidders were few. Fie barracked the crowd, but it was an inanimate one. It remained mute. Finally, an offer of 5s was obtained, and a few minutes’ more work resulted in the Post and Telegraph Department being richer by 13s. Royal Enfield motor-cycle parts soon found a new owner at ss. Sprung motor-car seats went for 6s 6d the lot. Then came a bundle of women’s bicycles. The word "bundle” is used advisedly* for they had all been in smashes of some sort, or another and the three machines were tied together for mutual support. The Department got its fu[l value for these at £2 for the lot. A man’s bicycle which, according to the auctioneer, was fitted with selfstarter and electric light, brought 27s 6d after prolonged bidding. A marine engine brought £9, a diver’s pump 15s and a four-wheel trailer £3 6s. Then the crowd started to take a little more interest in the proceedings, for the motor vehicles were reached. A Royal Enfield motor-cycle outfit found an owner at £lO 10s, while a B.S.A. sidecar combination brought £36. Pays £7O For Oar. A Ford truck sold at £lO and a Ford car at £ll 10s, both , quite good value at the money. The centre of attraction was a Morris Oxford car which started at £2O. The pleas of the auctioneer did not fall on unhearing ears and its new owner paid out £7O to drive it away. An Armstrong-Siddeley car brought £56. The familiar red vans which are used for collecting letters from pillar boxes were next offered and two of these brought £2l and £l9 10s respective!)’’. Ford truck brought £2O and three Ford ton trucks brought £l9, £26 and £23 respectively. In the words of the gentleman who reports Addington yards every Wednesday "bidding was slow and dispirited and buyers were slow.” However* the Department managed to clear out a lot of valuable space and got a good deal of ready cash in. All the vehicles were removed during the day and a clerk was there to see that all that required licensing were dealt with imraediately. '