Ban On Cars From U.S.A.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 882, 28 January 1930, Page 5

Ban On Cars From U.S.A.

System of Quotas Proposed in Germany According to the latest Sydney papers dispatches from Berlin announce an agreement between the Federation of German Motor Manufacturing Industries and similar organisations in France, Italy, Belgium, Austria and Czecho-Slovakia for joint action against the increasing competition of American cars. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says that it is not stated what action the other countries concerned are taking, but Germany proposes a system of import quotas. This would need legislative action, but the Press states that the scheme has the Government’s approval, and that the necessary Bill will be duly introduced. The federation’s president explains that they are resorting to import quotas because trade treaties prevent raising the existing low import duties. They could not admit that the United States should have an unlimited right to export motors to Germany without regard to the conditions of the home market. It might be suggested that they ought to consider the Americans, but did the Americans consider them? RIVALRY FROM U.S.A. Behind the reports that Germany is seeking to prevent the importation of American cars, there must be a very interesting story. Probably one of two things is happening in the fight for European car markets. Either the General Motors Corporation is attempting to squeeze Ford and other competitors out of the German market, or nationallyminded Germans are endeavouring to make other American makers establish assembly and manufacturing plants within Germany to create employment. Though both General Motors and Ford have averred that they are not fighting in Europe, neither yields the other a tiny point of advantage. When Ford commenced his huge factory at Dagenham, England, to build his cars for European distribution, General Motors already had completed its plans for the acquisition of the Opel Motor Company, in Germany. That acquisition is now complete.

“A.” —Several times recently I had a nasty surprise when my fairly new “Hup.” gave a sudden shake in the steering, very like a shimmy. It comes on quite unexpectedly, and I would like to know where to look for a remedy. ♦ * * I have no doubt your trouble is due to the front springs settling down and altering the throw or cast of the front axle, which, should be set three degrees forward. On examination you will find that your axle is laying back several degrees from dead centre. You can rectify this by means of steel wedges between axle and springs, and one must be careful to fit wedges of correct taper, otherwise, the steering is liable to wander. In fitting the “U” bolts to the axle, it is necessary to fit taper washers to compensate for the taper wedge; otherwise the “U” bolts will continually work loose. “Seller.” —l have more or less made up my mind to sell my old car and buy a new one, . but am wondering how much I can expect to get for my car. It is a 1923 Chevrolet, and had a pretty fair run. It has done 14.000 miles with me, but when I bought it second-hand the “speedo” was broken. It has always had careful attention. Could I bring it for you to see it? * * * It is quite impossible for an outsider to value your car from a description in a letter. I would be glad to give you my private opinion after seeing it, but that is scarcely the job of a newspaper. Your best plan is to go to a reputable motor dealer and get their expert to go over it carefully. They will give you a quite unprejudiced opinion, and as they are handling second-hand cars all day, are absolutely accurate. D.E.G. —I can’t get my gears to go into low gear from neutral after the car has been standing. Do you think this is due to the heavy oil, as I am told it is? The trouble would appear to be in the clutch, as too heavy a grade of oil in the gearbox would assist, rather than hinder, the engagement of first gear from a standstill, although it might render actual gear changing when in motion more difficult. I would suggest that the clutch plates have worn, into the pins which transmit the drive, and that, instead of sliding freely along these pins when the clutch is