MOTOR IMPORTER’S VIEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1921, Page 7

MOTOR IMPORTER’S VIEWS.

‘TN FOR A BAD TIME.”

“The tariff will undoubtedly hit the motor-importing trade hard.” stated an importer to a Times reporter on Saturday. “I have not yet had, so far, an opportunity of studying the new conditions completely, but from a casual glance I should say that trade in this particular line will be restricted if the present proposals of the Government are sustained by Parliament. Motorists were prepared to pay a duty on tyres in order to provide funds for road improvement, but it would appear that the money obtained by way of duty is to be placed to the credit of the Consolidated Fund, which was quite unex*pected. To further tax motorists for the upkeep of roads in addition to the proposed license fees will go a long way to defeat the object, and the trade, if not killed altogether, will be considerably restricted. Most persons believe that the additional taxation is to relieve the farmer, but the fact that commercial vehicle tyres have been taxed in the same way as pleasure car tyres will place a further burden on the farmer. The placing of 15 per cent, duty on tyres does not appear to be a great hardship, but when it is considered that additional taxation has also been placed on accessories which come under many various headings of the tariff the motor ist is in for a bad time.’ . Another importer said that the question was one that would undoubtedly occupy the attention of the Motor Association. A meeting was being held at Christchurch this week, when every item would be gone into, and probably representation would be made to the Government at a later date.