Tyre Monopoly Puts The Price Well Up

Chronicle (Levin), 22 June 1949, Page 3

Tyre Monopoly Puts The Price Well Up

WELLINGTON, June 21. "It is time New Zealanders co'nsidered what bearing the manuf acture • of tyres in the Dominion will have on the overall economy of the country," says a statement issued by the Bureau oi Importers. * "A monopoly has been ereated by granting licpnses to three companies for the manuf aeture of motor tyres and tubes. They feceive eomplete protection under the now perverted system oi import eontrol, and in the past few weeks the immediate effeet of the poliey has been reflected in the inereased prices of vehicles now fitted with New Zealand-made tyres. The additional prices the public will now have to pay are: Cars fitted with 5.00 x 16 tyres, £10; trucks fitted with 7.00 x 20 tyres, £34; heavy transport ■ vehicles, £58, ' ' Elsewhere the statement says that ruling retail priees overseas for a standard 6.00 x 16 tyre are: United States of Ameriea, 37s; Australia, £5 11s; New Zealand, £8 2s. Another faetor whieh the Bureau of Importers conteuds will contribute to increased costs of transport and production in New Zealand is that, whereas the imported heavy duty 34 x 7 tyres were graded for an axle loading of 30001b, the New Zealand-made equivalent 7.50 x 20 will be graded foi ! only 27001b. This means that, when present tyres art worn out, owners of heavy transport vehicles will be compelled to fit the more costly 8.25 x 20, twelve-ply, in order to maintain the same payload.