WHY MOTORS ARE DEAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1919, Page 10

WHY MOTORS ARE DEAR.

A CLEVER "RING" AT WORK. The first of the sales of surplus Government motor vehicles was opened on Saturday, May 25, at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington; when 300 motor cycles were offered. Solo cycles which were move like scrap iron than motor bicycles found purchasers at an average- price of £3O, and the prices of machines in much the same condition with sidecars attached fluctuated between 40 and 00 guineas. Each of the 30 new four horse-power Douglas machines with sidecar realised 125 guineas, a premium of 25 guineas on the makers' priceA secret ring of the "trade" was responsible for the fantastic prices obtained at the first great sale of Government motor cycles at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, on Saturday. That, at least, is the opinion of experts who have been making inquiries, says the Daily Express. The prices were amazing—4o and 50 guineas were paid for motor cycles that are not repairable, even if spare parts could be obtained for them, and ton guineas for nothing but an old frame and tank. "A clever 'ring' worked the auction, without doubt," said an expert connected with a. trade paper this week. "They knew the great interest'there would be in the sale, with people coming from all parts of the country, hoping to get fair bargains, and the 'ring' went out to force up prices and create an entirely fictitious value for second-hand and worn-out machines. "They deliberately played a bluff, calI culating that there would be a great deal of publicity for the high prices fetched by old junk. The idea is simply to frighten the general public off future sales. "Many of the straightest dealing retail firms refrained from trying to buy at Saturday's auction," concluded this expert.