MOTOR IMPORTATIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 40, 10 May 1927, Page 10

MOTOR IMPORTATIONS

BIG FALLING OFF BODY-BUILDERS LEFT In the first quarter of 1926 the motor-car importations in New Zealand established record figures, but the first quarter of this year shows a very considerable decrease, a falling-off of about 48 per cent. Apparently the importers correctly anticipated the fall-ing-off in sales which has been recorded for the three months, while the position is explained somewhat by the considerable number of new models, no motor selling firm having’ any liking for a big stock of new cars on hand when it knows that there is a new model to follow within a few weeks. This was demonstrated in connection with a shipment of new models in Auckland recently. The old model stocks had been allowed to fall to the The whole shipment was reported sold last car, and at the identical moment the new models arrived in the shop, within a week. Compared with the first three months of 1926, 1927 showed the following importation of chasses into the Dominion. Details were:

Of the total 901 were imported through Auckland. Value is assessed at current domestic values at the country of export, plus 10 per cent. A feature of the sta.tisics is that only a small percentage of the importations were of bare chasses. Only 298 were without bodies, so that the new rates calculated to assist local body-builders have had no immediate result. Last year’s quarter showed 3,075 of the 6,954 importations as being bare chasses. Of the 298, 170 of the incomplete cars were from England, France and Italy. COMMERCIAL VEHICLES Commercial vehicles did not share in the decline, and the table concerning them shows the following:

Of the total last quarter, 195 were imported through Auckland. IT DID Rastus and his wife, driving to town in their decrepit flivver, had parked it casually in the first available space. While they were away a traffic officer attached a numbered tag to the vehicle for parking in a prohibited zone. On their return, Rastus noticed the tag and was for throwing it into the street, but Rebecca restrained him. “Sabe de ticket, honey,” she said. “Dat number might win sumthin’.”

From 1926. 1927. T nited States . . .. 2,135 1,528 Canada .. 3,892 1,110 Li nited Kingdom 805 764 Italy . . . 87 1S4 France 22 Belgium . . . 2 Total . . . . .. 6,954 3,60S Value, £1,032,171 £564,208

From 1926. 1927. United States 264 332 Canada 145 489 Great Britain 146 60 France 9 2 Italy 4 Belgium 3 2 Totals 571 886