MOTOR CARS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1932, Page 5

MOTOR CARS

DROP IN IMPORTS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 5. While the motoring habit, once acquires, dies hard, ■ there has been a distinct falling off lately in the purchase of new cars, and a general inclination on the part of those with cars in their possession to make shorter pleasure trips. The registration - figures show that the total up to the end of - November last, 227,000, more "than doubled the figures in 1925. These latest returns show that' there were 144,724 motor vehicles Registered in the North Is- ( land, of which 97,402 were cars, 26,173 commercial vehicles, and 21,149 cycles, while in the South Island there were 82,336 registrations, of which 55,199 were cars, 13,093 commercial vehicles, and 14,044 cycles. Cars are only registered; once,, and remain registered unless the registration is cancelled. Cancelled registrations total 44,356. The position' regarding newly purchased vehicles is shown by the recent .registrations, which give a decided falling off compared with the past few years, and a more rapid decline last year. Registrations in 1929 Mere he* tweeh 2000 alld 3000 t'very : month, and December, ahvays a big month, reached 3,681, blit iff 1030 the registrations were only foui-times Over 2000, and iff 1931 they were only once over 1000, Tlffi pronounced fall really set in iff November, 1930, but Caere ’» an evident further gradual decrease -in tie year’s monthly figures, which run 988, 936, 982, 870, 763, 1405 (June, being the beginning of the year, has always a big registration), 8-9, 874, 815, 894, and 984, so far. Though December usally gives a heavy registration, IV is not anticipated that last month’s _ figures will reach more than a third of those of 1929.