FEWER MOTORS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1930, Page 2

FEWER MOTORS

IMPORTS LAST QUARTER

BRITISH CARS STABLE.

Motor vehicle imports into New Zealand daring the first quarter oi 1930 were substantially below the quota for the corresponding period of last year, the total dutiable value for the three months being £724,109, as compared with £1,077,664 last year. In ,1928 the first quarter’s total was £521,263, and 1929 was regarded as a phenomenal period. The cautious opening of the present. year, it is stated, cannot be analysed as a prelude to a slump. It reveals rather the return to a stable condition, catering for a growing replacement market, and putting some thousands of new motorists on the roads every year.

The falling-off is marked in the imports from the United States and Canadas but on. a financial basis British. products enjoy a slight increase. The dutiable values used in every case-' for the comparisons are simply the 'current domestic values in the country of' origin, plus 10 per cent. Duties and costs incidental to the assembly ami distribution of the cars and trucks in the Dominion must lie taken into account, in any estimate of fhe real expenditure on motors. Following arc the dutiable values of cars, chassis, and nil classes of trucks, vans and buses imported during, the first quarter of each year:— ' . ' 1929 1930 . - £ ,£ United States .... 442,236 284,194 Canada 447,557 248,714 Great Britain 184.572 189,581 Belgium 3,299 1,264 France £1,077,664 £724,109

ORIGIN OF THE IMPORTS

The total number of motor vehicles imported last quarter was 4454, comprising 3012 oars and car chassis, and 842 commercial types. As indicated by the augreeate values,, the nhmbeis were well below those for the con osponding months of 1929. Although upon. a money .basis, British cars numbered just eight less than last year. Average values- naturally fluctuate according to the increase or decrease in the purchases of definite prices classes,, and the charges do not necessarily indicate all-round increases in. the prices of fears. - Canada; has *the benefit-of th e preferential tariff and .Canadian cars head the list and are more than double the British share. The figures seem to show that boom periods benefit, only American and Canadian cars. Continental imports are negligible. Following are details of the imports of cars and car chassis dui ing, the first quarters of 1928, 1929 and 1930:

In the commercial vehicle field Canada is easily dominant. America supplied slightly less than twice the British quota last quarter. The falling of! in British commercial vehicles is rather marked, but the total of 108 is well above the 1928 figure.

Following are details of the total imports of trucks, vans, buses and commercial chassis in the three quarters of each year:—

1928 1029 1930 Canada 271 2741 1510 United States 2025 2124 1385 Great Britain. 557 723 715 Belgium 5 10 2 ] France 2 Italy i . " 2861 5598 3612

1928 1929 1930 Canada 6 769 527 United States ... .286 745 205 Great Britain 75 147 108 Belgium 1 2 1 1 France — 3681663 842