COMMERCIAL VEHICLES BUT NOT CARS

Chronicle (Levin), 16 January 1948, Page 3

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES BUT NOT CARS

Press Association j

(Per

WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. Import licences for eoimnercial vehicles from the : Nnited' .Kingdom, have been doubled in value for 1948 rnalang possible the impprtation of -000 this year. The Government has made no announcement about any increase in licences for United Kinndom motor cars. ' The value of the inerease granted for Lnited Kingdom ' eommereial vehicles is £(N.Z.) 500,000. . . Mr- A- W. H. Brown, representative m New Zealand of ,the Society o± Motor Manufacturers, London, says the inerease is valuable- but a great disap^ pointment. Nothing -has been done about motor cars. Manufacturers and the Government of the United Kingdom were anxious for the export of- both eommereial vehicles and cars -to New Zealand. United Kingdom manufacturers had 20,000 vehicles seheduled for New Zealand this year but licences were granted for only 2000 eommereial vehicles and 9000 cars. Every effort was being made by United Kingdom manufacturers, in negotiations with the British Board of Trade-and New Zealand Government, to arrange licences to cover this . 20,000. The ex;port of motor vehfcles was a' most valuable item in Britain's export plans and it was essential for her to obtain markets witliin the Empire so that the volume could be maint'ai'ned ahdvehicles produced eeonomically so that they could be sold competitively m nther parts of the world.