Motor Dealers Want To Import More Cars

Chronicle (Levin), 22 February 1949, Page 2

Motor Dealers Want To Import More Cars

press Assaciation)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Feb. 2i. ' A serious shortage of nevr cars sti.il exists aiul it is tlierefore hoped that the Government will favourably eonsider granting additional unport licences for cars for 1949," said a statement issued by the New Zealand Ketail Motor Trade Association toniglit. (In 1947 there was an increase in licences to import motor vehicles. lji 194(1 the number of new ears registered was 5107, in 1947 there were 15,(591 and in 194S 14,51(5. It is anticipated that if the Government adheres to its present policv aml restricts licences to those given in 194S, the number of cars for registratiou will be botweeu 10,000 and 12,000, the statement continues. "A largo number of cars imported in 1947 wero sold in 194S and thus inereased the 1948 hgures. It is anticipated there will be a substantial reduction in the number of cars imported duriiig 1949 if the present decision of restricting importation to the same number of vehicles as in 1948 is adhered to. Prices are to some degree higner at tlie souice of supply and no benelit arises from the reductions in the exchange rate in tlmt licences have been restricted by the percentage of iucrease whicli would have come had the exchange rate been allowed to operate." The stateinent added that the motoi indnstrv was coneerned with the largc demand for new motor vehicles and the shortage of snpplv. This was the main t'aelor in keepiug up prices on used vehicles. The associat.iop hoped the M inister of Finance ' would give serious consideration'to increasiug licences for new cars.