Motor Traders Meet

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 155, 21 September 1927, Page 13

Motor Traders Meet

CONFERENCE AT ROTORUA IMPORTANCE OF GOOD ROADS (Special to THE SUN.) ROTORUA, Tuesday. The tenth annual conference of the New Zealand Motor Traders’ Association commenced here today. It is attended by 120 delegates from all parts of the Dominion. The annual conference of the Wholesale Motor-Cycle Traders’ Association is being held in con-

junction. Mr. E. Reynolds, president of the latter organisation, in welcoming the delegates, stated that the motor today was a necessity and not a luxury. Traders stood for legitimate progress, reasonable by-laws, reasonable taxation and reasonable consideration of the many problems made by the motor. Import and export figures now showed an improvement, he said, and good times were predicted. “What we need is confidence in the future. We, as motor traders, stand solidly for service, service to the individual and to the state. *’

The Mayor, Mr. T. McDowell, stressed the interest of mo tor-traders in good roads. Rotorua Borough, in the first five years of its existence, he said, had spent £ 59,000 on road improvement. Anyone acquainted with Rotorua roads would recognise that the money had been well spent. He regretted that many would have travelled to Rotorua by motor and not by train had it not been for the Alamaku. Rotorua was losing a great deal of motor traffic because some roads were not what they should be. CONFERENCE REMITS

Mr. George Dash, of Waimate, president of the Motor Traders* Association, outlined the work of the conference. Remits for discussion included oil, tyres, petrol, spare parts, car sales, arbitration, wage awards, stolen cars, taxation and roading. He said that taxation and roading were bound together. Good roads increased motoring, and consistent motoring meant busy times for the trade. Motorists were willing to pay their fair share for good roads.

Taxation inflicted for the purpose of good roads should be collected in the least costly way continued Mr. Dash. The tendency to load the car owner with all the cost of roads Was not on the lines of justice and fair play. As the association had a part to play both in the interests of users and traders, the sharing of roading taxation should be just and effective. Overtaxation, unjustly applied would do more to hamper the development of motoring, and the advancement of the motor trade than anything else. It was decided to extend the activities of the association by organising a solid-tyre section of the industry on similar lines to the present pneumatic tyre sellers. STOLEN CARS Several members expressed strong condemnation of the present law regarding motor thefts. It was decided to approach the Government to bring down legislation for imprisonment without the option of a fine, and to extend the maximum term of imprisonment. OFFICERS ELECTED The election of officers resulted: President. —Mr. J. H. Ashton (New Plymouth). Vice-presidents.—North Island, Mr. 3?. Flavell; South Island, Mr. C. W. Wood. The secretary and treasurer were reappointed. Councillors. —Auckland, Mr. G. vv. Spragg; South Auckland, Mr. C. H. Erson; Whangarei, Mr. F. Reynolds: Gisborne, Mr. H. Holmes; Thames, Mr. A. D. Wallace; Te Kuiti, Mr. Holah; Hawke's Bay, Mr. H. A. Anderson; Tsaranaki, North, Mr. M. Ferguson; Taranaki South, Mr. C. C. Stanners; Wanganui, Mr. F. Flavell; Wairarapa, Mr. G. Hughan; Wellington, Mr. D. H. Edgar; Nfelson, Mr. R. Wright; Christchurch, Mr. G. Tench; , South Canterbury, Mr. C. W. Wood; Otago, Mr. J. Black; Southland, Mr. J. N. Armour.