GARAGES ARE BUSY NOW CHECKING CARS FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 December 1949, Page 4

GARAGES ARE BUSY NOW CHECKING CARS FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL

With the approach of the Christwas and New Year holidays, city gari ages are experiencing a busy time as motorists have their cars checked in preparation for holiday travel. Tne increased petrol issue for December will help to swell the miles from petrol saved during the year, and i> is expected that the amount of trafiic on the roads will be the heaviest since the end of the war. The normal brisk pre-holiday trade has been experienced by all garages and there will be a rush to cater tor all the work offering for the next week. Quite a brisk trade, too, is expected to be done In accessories. The few new cars offering has kept up the price of second-hand vehicles and prices are. at a high level. The number of good used cars is getting lower and the market is still dellnlitely in favour of sellers. Cars ol post-war vintage with a moderate mileage still claim nearly new-cai values, and good pre-war cars often sell at prices almost double their new prices. So great is the demand for good second-hand cars that many dealers have representatives travelling through the country scouting foi cars. The fact that many people have been saving coupons for the summer holidays is borne cut by the difficulty experienced in changing coupons at the end of the month. Service stations recently reported that few current coupons were being received, most motorists using the coupons for the past month. They had been besieged with inquiries from peoplewishing to change coupons at the end of the month. BOOKINGS AT CAMPS Bookings at motor camps throughout the district and, in fact, all parts of the North Island, are heavy. Many motorists have had their sites booked for months, but the usual rush ot Last-minute inquiries is expected. The Wanganui district camps will be well patronised, judging from reservations and inquiries to date, it is expected that more caravans will be on thr road this year. There has Seen an increasing demand for caravans each year, and this type of travel is becoming very popular. Some caravans that have been seen in the city are almost as well appointed as small homes. TESTING OF VEHICLES The Wanganui City Council testing station will experience a busy period until Christmas Eve as motorists have their cars and trailers tested for warrants of fitness in preparation for the holidays. Many warrants expire in December and this month and June are busy periods at the station.