MOTOR-CARS FROM AMERICA
REGULATION SUGGESTED
Reference to a recent Jarge shipment of motor-cars from New York was made at last week's meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The president, Mr. R. Burns, said that a vessel which arrived at Auckland recently carried about 900 cars. Not only were they stowed below deck, but two tiers were carried en deck. It had been stated that as the tessel's tonnage was 9720 tons, his previous statement that cars occupied about 10,000 tons space was wrong. This argument was ridiculous, for Tie had referred to ton'measurement, and on this basis the vessel's capacity below deck was about 18,000 tons, and on deck 2000 tons. Mr. Burns said it was criminal for motor-cars to be imported to this extent at a timo wheii every inch of cargo space should bo occupied by essential gojds. In spite. of what the Minister of Finance had said when introducing his last Budget, it could,not be established that pleasure cars wero essential goods. The Prime. Minister had stated that representations on the subject were being niado to the Imperial authorities, but this was not satisfactory. There was not sufficient petrol in the country for essential work. Dairy farmers arid many others were dependent upon petrol for industrial purposes. He suggested that the council should ask the Government to prohibit the import of cars, except on license. This regulation already applied to many goods.
Mr. E. Anderson said he thought that the council «hould express its views on the subject in a'very decided way. Ho 'believed that some of the cars of the shipment mentioned were for Australia, but the fact remained' that New Zealand was not getting essential iroods.
Anothor member said that according to a trade iourn.nl the importation of oars in January was equal to 22 a day, including Sundays. Mr. E. T!. Robertson said the council should m.Mco s'n-p of its fncts hefore doiiif anvtlmic further in the matter.
It was decided lo refer tlie matter to the Imports Committee.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 6
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339MOTOR-CARS FROM AMERICA Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 6
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