OBSOLETE CARS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1933, Page 8

OBSOLETE CARS

SCHEME FOR DESTRUCTION SUGGESTION BY RETAILERS AUCKLAND, September 4. j A scheme for the destruction of from 3000 to 4000 obsolete motor-cars in the * Dominion each year is being considered by motor retailers in Auckland, and 'when.it is completed it .will be submitted to motor-car dealers throughj out New Zealand for their support. It is proposed that importers should pay into a c'entral fund £lO for for each car or truck imported, and that they ; should receive from the organisation £2O for every obsolete machine taken from their stock and destroyed,.

i- A circular letter to dealers in Auckland states that as the motoring public 1 wears out motor-cars, they should pay for the privilege. At present the retailers were doing most of the paying, in the reconditioning and selling costs of used cars, a great many of whjch should never be allowed to go on tbe road again. It is stated that retail merchants could never be <>rgan--1 ised sufficiently to make a plan to control “trade-in” allowances on used cars, but if was possible to put between 3000 and 4000 obsoluto machines off me road each year, and to pay the merchants their value in cash. It is claimed that, under the proposed scheme, the greatest worry of the motor business, the disposal or obsolete-cars difficult to sell, would be Tjrpetically eliminated. At present Wrecking companies were thriving by buying lor between £2 10s and £5 cars which cost the dealers £ls to £35, and selling the parts. Thus, dealers were losing business in genuine spare parts. If a large number of old cars went oi the roads each year, new car sales would receive impetus, '.and purchasers ■ of used cars would (be compelled to buy . a better article. Moreover, the public ! would have more confidence in buying . used cars.

“Geographically, New Zealand is isolated and is practically the only country that could put this plan into operation with complete success,” the. letter states. When business returned to normal .there would be a tremendous replacement of vehicles throughout New Zealand, and- used car troubles would be greater than ever before, unless some action was taken

The plan provides for all motor importers to add £lO to the landed cost of each vehicle, and for this sum to be paid into a central fund controlled by a committee of three representatives of the- landing motor importers. Two fieldsmen, one for the North Island and one for the South, would co.'er their district twice annually, checkin reports forwarded of new cars solid, and inspecting the used stock for destruction. The number of vehicles wrecked would he accorded to each particular 7 concern’s credit with the fund. It bon'd then be the duty of the fieldsmen to have the cars removed to a “dumping” ground, put a hammer through the crank-ease and gearbox, and burn the machines with petrol. After being burned, each vehicle would bte' spirfiyed with sulphuric Acid to prevent pilfering for parts. Details of all cars sold, amounts paid into the fund, and old machines wrecked, would be kept by a secretary, who would be stationed in Wellington.