COST OF MOTOR TRUCKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 245, 16 October 1931, Page 7

COST OF MOTOR TRUCKS

BRITISH AND AMERICAN PROBLEM FOR POWER BOARD HAMILTON, Oct. 14. Reference to the broadcast appeal made by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates from Wellington last evening to buy New Zealand or Empire goous was made at tho meeting of the Central Power Board to-day by Mr G. H. Boyd. The engineer, Mr J. R. Ellis, reported that two American motor-trucks had come to the end of their economical life, having done over 51,000 miles, and he recommended that they be replaced.

Mr Boyd put in a claim for English trucks.

Mr Ellis said that a light English truck cost from £350 to £4OO, whereas the American vehicle cost £2BO. He agreed that the heavy English truck had always been and still was a better proposition than the American vehicle of similar weight, but he questioned whether the English light truck would stand up to the work as the American vehicle which was to be discarded had done. Mr W. Lee Martin said the bodies of the American truck were built in New Zealand, and 64 per cent, of the material used was of New Zealand origin.

The engineer said he would considei carefully the merits of both the English and American vehicles before making the purchase.