Authoritative Review

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1006, 24 June 1930, Page 6

Authoritative Review

New Publication Covers Whole Range of Transport Field

THE most comprehensive and authoritative review of tlxe transport field in New Zealand is “The Motor Trade in New Zealand,” compiled and issued by the Market Research Division of the Charles Haines Advertising Agency, Ltd. The Second annual compilation yields a big- store of interesting facts and figures dealing with every class of motor transport.

Tlie publication states that 42 makes of cars are substantially represented in New Zealand, ranging in price from £lB9 to over £I,OOO. Apart from numerous small roadside shops and ordinary petrol stations, there are over 1,000 properly established agencies and distributors selling and repairing cars. “The big increase in sales for the year ended February 28,” says the publication, “was conincident with the general prosperity of the Dominion, and this factor, together with the natural growth of population, will largely aifect the future of the industry.” It was forecast in the first report that 20,000 cars would be sold last year; sales for the year ended February 28, 1930, totalled 21,146. HIGH PER CAPITA RATE In 1929, there was one motor-car to every 11 persons in New Zealand. The figure is now one to 9.63, taking the registration of cars only. Only the United States (one to 4.9 people) and Canada (one to 9.1) are leading New Zealand in this respect. Southland has one car to 7.64 people, Hawke’s Bay one to 7.77, Taranaki one to 8.24, Canterbury one to 5.52, Wellington one to 8.81, Marlborough one to 8.56, Auckland one to 11.05, Otago one to 11.28, Westland one to 11.51, and Nelson one to 14.75. Approximately one out of every two domestic dwellings in New Zealand boasts a car, as against two in five in the previous year. A total of 141,385 cars are in active operation, apart altogether from “dormant” registrations —i.e., cars which were originally registered, but were not re-registered in the year under review. Canada provided 46 per cent, 'of the imports in the 12 months, United States 36£ per cent., and the United Kingdom 17 3-S per cent. COMMERCIAL VEHICLES As with cars, so commercial vehicle imports constituted a record for New Zealand, with 5,795 against 2,282 in the previous year. There are 27,750 commercial vehicles in use in the Dominion, though the total registered was 31,928. The total expenditure for the year on all classes of motor-vehicles, tyres, etc., was £5,914,936, distributed as follows: United Kingdom £1,399,728, Canada £2,370,561, United States £2,056,823, other countries £57,869. WHERE THEY WERE SOLD The total sales of new motor-cars in

New Zealand during the 12 months ended February 28, 1930, were 21,146. The North Island accounted for 14,363 new cars, and the South Island for 6,783. The Auckland Province led with 7,236, Wellington came second with 4,661, and Canterbury next with 2,958. Only three cities purchased cars running into four figures. They were: Auckland 2,975, Wellington 2,348, Christchurch 1,637. The best month for sales was December, 1929, with 2,746. Next came November (2,160) and June (1.911). A comprehensive table gives the sales for 12 months of 51 different makes of cars in each of 9S towns and districts in tlie Dominion as well as the totals for each provincial district. VALUE OF CARS In 1929, 23,361 cars were imported, valued at the port of shipment plus 10 per cent., at £3,407,887, as against 16,504 valued at £2,336,299 in 1928. The number of cars imported from the United Kingdom in 1929 was 4,060, as against 2,361 in 1928. GOVERNMENT CARS The New Zealand Government bought 325 vehicles for the 12 months ended April 30, 1930, made up of: British-built chassis, 26; cars, Austin 69, Ford 42, Whippet 20, Dodge five, Essex four, Morris one; trucks, Ford 20, Thornycroft 15, Guy four, Morris three, Graham two, Chevrolet aud Whippet one each; vans, Ford 93, Austin 14, Whippets five. The great part which trucks are playing in the transport of the Dominion is shown by the fact that there are 16,732 one-tonners, 6,255 of two tons, 1,503 of three, 724 of four, 304 of five, 45 of six, and 21 of over six tons. ALLIED TRADES In 1929, 3,823 motor-cycles were imported as agajnst 3,558, in 1925. Of the 1929 importations 85.72 per cent, were British. A total of 25,459 motorcycles are in use. The tyre imports in 1929 totalled £1,163,414 against £994,774 in 1928. Tractors in use on farms totalled 3,377 as against 2.883 in 3 928. Petrol, 62,441,692 gallons valued at £2,130,451 was imported in 1929, against 54,540,4-10 and £1,655,451 respectively in 1928. This publication gives figures regarding roads, bicycles, airplanes, insurance, credit sales, motoring organisations, exports, and hydro electric power.