FEWER CARS BOUGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 990, 5 June 1930, Page 8

FEWER CARS BOUGHT

FIGURES FOR QUARTER BRITISH VALUES INCREASE The total value of motor-vehicles imported. into New Zealand for the firs: quarter of this year was substantially below that for the corresponding perioi of 1929, the falling-off being markei in the case of Canadian and Unite! States products. British cars, on the other hand, show a slight increase ia value although the actual number brought into the Dominion is slightly lower. The total dutiable value of motor imports for the first quarter of this year was £724,109 as against £1,077,664 last year and £521,253 ia 1928. Duties are calculated or the current values in the country of origin plus 10 per cent., and costs cf transport and distribution must be addei to find the actual amount spent on* motors by New Zealanders. Following are the dutiable values cf all motor-vehicles and chassis imported during the first quarter of the two years:

Of the 4,454 vehicles impored into the Dominion during the first thr*« months, 3,612 were cars and ttr chassis and 842 commercial types. TOTAL COST GREATER English imports number eight fewer than last year, although their total cost was greater, but this does not necessarily indicate an all-round rise in co6t, as average values naturally fluctuate according to the proportion of purchases in the various price classes. Canadian cars head the list being more than double the Engl**- 1 imports. Continental cars are fewer than- for some years. The figures indicate that boom periods benefit only American anc Canadian cars and this was especially noticeable in last year’s record n 2 " ports. Following are details of the of cars and car chassis during the fir** quarters of 1928, 1929 and 1933: iMf!

Canada is dominant in the coming" cial vehicle field. The British quo» show’s a decided falling off. but t. total of 108 is still above the figure for 1928. The United States supply slightly under double the Bnum* figure. • , Following are details of the to imports of trucks, vans, buses commercial chassis in the three quar-

1929. 1*30. United States .. £442,236 sm.iH C anada 447,557 :a.' 184,572 Belgrium .. . . France — 3'4 Totals .. .. .. £1,077,664 £724,1-0

1928. 1929. 1$». 1,51* l.#2 715 Canada 2.' 41 United States .. 2,025 2,124 Great Britain . . Belgium 5 France Italy — Totals .. .. .. 2,861 5,598

ters of each year: 1928. 1929. IP* g Canada 6 1 nited Sta-es . . . 286 its Great Britain . . . 75 1 2 France — Totals 368 1,563 tC