Banning Motor Cars Is Not Helping Britain

Chronicle (Levin), 5 February 1948, Page 7

Banning Motor Cars Is Not Helping Britain

"Motori'sts will be'&stounded to learn that while New Zealand is ' restricting the number of new niotqr cars from Britain, no import licences or Government exchange permits have been necessary in Australia' for a eonsid'erable period to import from England all types of 'ehassis for passenger cars and trucks, " aecording to a statement issued by the New Zealand Motor Vehicle Importers; Association tod'ay. "To nieet all New Zealand 's trausport needs calls for importations of diilerent and suitable types of vehieles froni various countries.' There is a high demand for essential vehieles of a type which can be obtained only from dol lar. countries, but while the peak, of tko dollar crisis exxsts, vve should not be denied the riglit to import fully from Britain. The Aid to Britain Campaign has the unqualified support of every loyal New Zealander. For some nnknown reasons this country is prevented from playing its full part. The severe restriction _of imports of cars into New Zealand is not aid to Britain. On the contrary, the Old country looks to this Dominion to pull its weiglit in achie\'ing her vast export targets. "The British Board of Trade has sct British car manufacturers the tremendous task in 1918 of exporting double the value of cars exported in 1947. New Zealand 's answer is to reduce car imports from Britain to a figure 33, per cent. less than in 1947. In spite of her size, New Zealand has a big part to play in assisting Britain 's export drive. Britain 's need is all the more desperate. in that she is now excluded .from 15 "of ber foreign markets. "It is true that New Zealand has done a remarkable job in sending huge quantities of foodstull's to Britain. With record lamb and rneat ldllings, top wool prices aiid vastlv increased x^^oduction of dairy produce the export side of the aid to Britain picture is a rosy one — but it is onlv half the storv. Britain must export to live. We must accept from Britain the maximum possible amount of imports of those types of' goods which Britain' wishes us to^take, and particularly those types of goods which are not readily aceepted in hard currency countries. Among these are motor cars and Britain need:s the full support of one of her best customers in the Empire. The British car manufacturer wauts to sell cars to this country and the molorist here wants u car. The sole liarrier is the ret'usal oi tlie Govermucnt to graut sufficient import licences. "We are told that lieejices can be ! granted only to the extent of New Zealand 's current income. In 1988 'thc motorist was allocated 7.(5 per cent. of the national export income but in 1948 the licences granted for the importatiou of cars represent only 2.G per cent. in a record production year, when the estimated national income is £L80,000,00U. " Thq New Zealand motorist is entitled to ask if licences have beeu grajited to the full exteiit of the anticipated national income, who has these licences? If licenpqs h'ave not been issued to the full extent, why is the mqforisb '• thus severelv penaiised. , "'Th'el grjint'iug -of sufficient licenjt'i8 for; ithe .importatiou of cars from , the L'nited" Ivingdom is necessary to truly iiqpl'qnient' the reverse side of the Aid tO''Britain campaign and'so that tlie tnotorist can s'eeure the nuich-needed telief that would resiilt •from his fau share of the national. income. "