MOTOR BODIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19787, 10 March 1927, Page 5

MOTOR BODIES

NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRY NO BENEFIT FROM NEW TARIFF [ Per Press Association. 1 WELLINGTON, March 8. That the recent increases in the motor tariff were imposed by the Government more for the purpose of poducing revenue and that the motor body builders of New Zealand had not benefited to anything like the extent that v\-s expected, was contended at the New Zealand Coach and Motor Body Builders ’ Association Conference in Wellington to-day. It was also urged that motor body builders should be given -.) opportunity of building some tram-car Dodies. Mr C. Cooper (Pukekohe) presided at the conference, delegates being present from all parts of the Dominion ccpt Auckland. Mr E. Harvie (Welington) sartT they claimed that they could utilise timber grown in New Zealand and that they could encourage young men tn enter motor body building and auxiliaiy industries, which were of value to the Dominion. They advocated Brit*’*! preference in every respect. British trade in New Zealand in respect of motor vehicles last year approximated 2000 cars out of 15,000. The money value of the. 15,000 cars was £2,500.090 of which the Britich proportion was valued at £517,000. They would IiKC to remedy that. What they wanted ro see imported were British chassis and to see New Zealand motor body builders putting the bodies on them. had been successful in the past in getting a measure of protection for tne motor body, the duty being imposed presumably to assist the industry. Although it was raised to 35 per cent, < had put them at a disadvantage wit’i the motor trader, and they as body builders said that the Government placed the duty on that part of tne car more for revenue-producing purposes than to protect the body builders' industry. The move had alienated fie sympathy of the motor traders, who said that the Government by its action had increased the cost of the motorcar to the used.