ASSEMBLY PLANTS MUST CLOSE

Evening Star, Issue 23691, 26 September 1940, Page 8

ASSEMBLY PLANTS MUST CLOSE

FIFTH-PERIOD IMPDRT LICENSES EMPHATIC PROTEST FROM MOTOR TRADE [Pzk Usitxd Fbesb Association.] WELLINGTON, September 26. The Motor Trade Federation "wishes to make an emphatic protest against the treatment of its industry under the fifth-period import licenses, according to the president, Mr C. R. Edmond, who, in a statement to-day, says that the restrictions will lead to the closing down of assembly plants, and will probably mean that the trade will be unable to pay its contribution to the War Purposes loan. There was a slight easing regarding spare parts and tyres, but the trade considered that there should be no restriction, as when no new vehicles were coming it was necessary that spare parts should bo available to keep up the old ones, . . The main issue, he said, was the total prohibition of the importation of cars for the whole of 1941, which would lead to the closing down of assembly plants and the dismissal of many workers. The importation of commercial vehicles would not provide much assembly work. . . He emphasised that these restrictions had been placed on the industry at a time when British manufacturers were appealing for orders to kedp up British trade.