MOTOR TRADERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20058, 3 October 1939, Page 3

MOTOR TRADERS

CHEERFUL OUTLOOK WAR MEASURES’ EFFECT Confirmation of a report ' in- the daily papers last week showing that the effect of war measures on the motor trade had been comparatively small, was given at an official meeting in Auckland of the car importers and distributors’ committee of the Allied Motor Association; The' report stated that at present, contrary to general belief, trade was said to be good, and the: general Outlook cheerful.

In a statement the committee said that, though the extreme petrol restrictions put into operation at the outbreak of hostilities created a landslide, the confidence of the raotorihg public was soon restored,- upon the release of the 10 gallons a month to private cars. The trade, too, was. confidently anticipating a further easing -of the petrol restrictions' at tam early /date,, following the announcement by rhe Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, on Thursday. * Satisfaction was felt at the sales of: new cars for January to August, 1939, compared with the corresponding; period of 1938. The new car sales for New Zealand in the first eight months of 1938 totalled 16,520 units, while.. for the same period this :year the total was 16,700 units. For the first three weeks of September, 1939, the figures compared very favourably with 1938 returns, it was stated.

The committee expressed the opinion that a definite shortage of all cars could be anticipated. It was fejt ihat the importation of any cars throughout the duration of the war was highly improbable