IMPORTATION OF MOTOR CARS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1418, 28 June 1917, Page 26

IMPORTATION OF MOTOR CARS.

MR. CLARKSON DEALS WITH A VEXED QUESTION.

The question of the importation of motor cars engaged the attention of Mr. A. S. Clarkson, president of the Canterbury Automobile Association, at a recent meeting. There had been a good deal of comment with respect to the question of importation of luxuries, he said, and great stress had been placed on the amount represented in motor cars, although it only represented a very small percentage of importations. However, the association was not really concerned with regard to the importation of motor cars, but it was concerned with respect to any action that might be taken which would indirectly affect those who at present owned motors that were mostly used in connection with business; then there was a great proportion used for business and pleasure. Only the minority were used absolutely for pleasure. “If the sale of motor cars were restricted,” Mr. Clarkson continued, “it would mean that those at present engaged in the industry would have to get their profit through some other means, and the price of petrol, tyres and repairs would of necessity be increased. As an association, I feel that we should endeavour to remove wrong impressions that seem to exist in the minds of a great many with regard to motorists generally. I have only to refer to the great service that this association has rendered in connection with the transportation of soldiers from time to time, the taking of musical parties to country concerts, thus providing the means of raising thousands of pounds for patriotic purposes; and I have been more than gratified with the generous manner in which motorists have responded to appeals that have been made by this association on numerous occasions. I do not know of any reasonable request to our members being turned down. There is also one feature that the Government must appreciate, in fact they do, and that is the tremendous amount that must have been saved through the free service that has been available through our organisation. There is no doubt that during

the war one thing that has helped to make for efficiency has been the efficient transport, which has been made possible through the introduction of the motor. As I mentioned before, we are not here to foster the motor trade, but we are jealous of the interests of our members, and are only anxious that the public should at least appreciate the free service that has been performed. If they only realised what it cost the individual members they would be more generous in their criticism. After all, the necessity for comfortable transport for our returned soldiers means a great deal, and if this work had been undertaken by the Government it would have proved very costly.” Other members also spoke on the matter, heartily concurring with Mr. Clarkson’s views.