MOTORS IN WAR TIME.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1917, Page 3

MOTORS IN WAR TIME.

LUXURY OR NECESSITY? AN ANIMATED .DISCUSSION. A distinct line of demarcation regarding motor vehicles utilised for commercial reasons and cars used solely for recreation purposes was drnwn by speakers at the meeting of the council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce on Monday afternoon, states the Post. The remarks made lmd their origin in the following motion, moved by Mr. L. A. Edwards:— '•That discusvon be held upon th* following resolution passed by the Otorohanga Chamber of Commerce:—That the attention of the Government be drawn to the fact that all importations rfom the United States of America of nonessentials, such as motor-cars, etc., should be prohibited, on the grounds that (1) such importations take up valuable shipping space; (2) our money spent in America has to be found by Britain and indirectly affects the rate of exchange; (3) all expenditure on non-ev-sentials is at the present time distinctly against the public interest; (4) that the Government 'be asked to take the matter into immediate consideration." Mr. Bennett seconded the motion.-

Mr. Edwards said that lie was entirely in accord with the spirit of the Otorohanga Chamber of Commerce in protesting against luxuries, but pointed out the essential part the motor-ear waa playing, in New Zealand to-day. There seemed to be a growing tendency oil the part of those who gave this matter only superficial consideration to think that motor-ears were "rich men's toys." that they should be specially taxed for load upkeep, and that their importation should be entirely prohibited. He was quite convinced that this was wrong, and that if importation' was not allowed, especially during the war, the clock of progress would be put back fifty years. The most essential industry was that of farming, and nine out of every ten motor-cars were sold to farmers. Why? Because tho motor-car was' the only means of coimmnication the farmer,

far removed from the cities, had. Today we were faced with.the most serious problem in our history, the shortage of man-power, and if the motor-ear was withdrawn from the farmer, how was he to attend the weekly sales? He had personal knowledge of men who had to travel a hundred miles to these sales, aiid if the farmers were compelled to revert to the horse and trap, their visits would take three or four days at a period when their time was of the utmost Value. Give the farmer his motor-car and reasonable roads, and one of our

most serious problems getting the young man to go on the land—would solvo itself. The South Island was Ui. fortunately passing through one of the

most serious droughts in its history, and his South Island manager had just written to him to state that if it were not for the motor-cars the farmers would not be able to carry on their business. And what o£ the doctor and

his motor-car? The doctors had told .hiin that motor-cars had trebled the

medical efficiency, especially in the country. The commercial traveller, too, was able to do twice the work with a motorcar as he could without it. The railway service was to be very seriously curtailed next month, and the motor-car

would, to a very large extent, get over the difficulty. Motor vehicles, as a means of transit, played also a very valuable part in business. Motor-cars were being exported from America because no other country was in a position at present to export them. "Wo don't want any more of this wild talk regarding the motor-car being non-es-sential," said Mr. Edwards. Mr. Nelson said he admitted that in some instances motor-cars were necessary, but he thought the Government should take into consideration the advisablcness of limiting the importation of motor-cars that were non-essential.

Mr. Rogers stated that the question of stopping the importation of motorcars was before the Commonwealth Government about twelve months ago, when Mr. Hughes was in England, and the Acting-Prime Minister had produced statistics to show that !>0 per cent, of the motors imported were for commercial purposes, 5 per cent, for semi-com-mercial purposes and 5 per cent, for pleasure purposes, .He (Mr. Rogers) felt convinced that the number ■of cars imported into Wellington for pleasure purposes would not be 5 per cent., but only 1 per cent. The subject was discussed at length, Mr. Forsyth contending that the Government had been very .weak in the matter and should have closed down on non-essentials some time ago, including motor-cars for pleasure purposes, as apart from motor vehicles for business necessities.

Mr. C. M. Luke (chairman) expressed the view that it was not a matter of shipping space, as some of the vessels, owing to the congestion at oversea ports, had come out to New Zealand in ballast during the early part of the war. ' He was of opinion that the.motor-car had to a large extent become essential, but anything they could do, any sacrifice they could make for the better carrying on of the war, it was their solemn "and sacred duty to do. Mr. Edwards then moved:—"That this chamber, recommends the Government to deal with the restriction of the importation of proved non-essentials." The motion was carried,