MOTOR TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1927, Page 4

MOTOR TRADE

THE SATURATION POINT. AVELLTNGTON. Dec. 21. “Everybody tolls mo you are turning the corner. There seems to he a happy feeling all tlircayh New Zealand that the worst is over. You have a wonderful country, and I. think there are good times ahead for all.” With those words Mr A. S. Murray, vice-president of General Motors Exports Company, New York, who is at present in Wellington, summed up his observations during a tour he has just made of the North Island and part of the South Island. “Since my arrival in the Dominion

a fortnight ago T have been over many of your roads, which I consider are in surprisingly good condition,” he said to-day. Discussing the motor industry Mr Murray said that by entering a little more deeply into the commerce of the countries in which his linn operated, they honed to dispel the idea that they were a foreign enterprise. “Our policy,” he pointed out, “is to purchase more ami more in those countries. That, of course, is a 1 illl o- difficult in New Zealand, because it is not a large manufacturing country. So far as the motor trade is concerned. South Africa, and New Zealand have much in common.

“Front my own observations 1 believe New Zealand is rapidly approaching the saturation point, and that it will soon become a. .stabilised market for replacement. The population cannot absorb many more motor-ears.

“The next development,” he added,, “will he towards an improvement in the existing ears rather than in the production of new models, f don't think we can look in the immediate future for any new product. Our volume of trade in America, where there is one ear to every five people, is not increasing very rapidly. The market there is just about stabilised. The changes are talcing place among the manufacturers rather than in the trade itself.”

Mr Murray will leave for Sydney on Friday, and while in Australia lie will visit Melbourne, Adelaide, and Pel'll before leaving for England via Alexandra.