MOTOR TYRES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 86, 3 July 1945, Page 6

MOTOR TYRES

LOCAL MANUFACTURERS "It is not too much to say. and say most that the manufacture of motor tyres in New Zealand will, so far from speading prosperity, be one. more efficient stroke towards the .spread of poverty in the country," The .statement was made by Mr A. E. llobinson j Provincial Secretar\* of the NewZealand Farmers' Union. (Auckland Province) in the course of a letter written to the Bureau of Industry, Wellington which had invited particulars of objections to applications that were being made for the manufacture of rubber tyres and tube£ for motor vehicles. "A 113* goods made in New Zealand/' continued Mr Robinson "under ordinary conditions have an advantage of Ircights. rates- interest and olten casing over the production of the same goods overseas. Were these advantages sufficient for the manufacture of tyres as against the disadvantage that the industry might have to suffer through importing rubber material and capital equipment from overseas, there would be little, ground for provided that quality were such as to sell the goods. To run any risk that either inferior or dearer or are provided for the pepplc of New Zealand is to run a risk of

injury to other particularly to primary industry. It will be the goods that the primary industry produces that will pay for capital equipment, rubber and fabric unless these also are to be made in New Zealand. "The claim that the secondary industries in providing such things as lyres arc accommodating the primary industry is a manifest absurdity if tyres can be obtained for the service of the primary industry and the transporters who serve it more cheaply" is meant more cheaply in duced in New Zealand, and foj' "more cheaply" ism cant more cheaply in actual terms of produce required Lo purchase the tyres. "The average landed cost of all tyres, in 1039 was about £H. Retail price already is several times and under New Zealand manufacture might be even worse."