MOTOR-CAR IMPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 January 1939, Page 4

MOTOR-CAR IMPORTS

NO ANTICIPATION OF SERIOUS RESTRICTIONS. WELLING i’ON CONJECTURES. IBy Teh-graph—l’n-$s Association i WELLINGTON, Th::: Day. i’i ti n licences already issued, it appears that imports of motor cars, both i.jsembled and completely knocked ciwn. are to be permitted, during ihe’ I'.rsi naif of this year, up to the- full ; i>,'.util imported during the corrcsi- Hiding period last year. A rumour was current yesterday i.int the- Government had given an ass.irtmce to this effect, under pressure f.-ojt motor importing firms, which were said to have declared that, if f.irllmr restriction's were imposed, they would be forced to discharge men om- ) Joyed in assembly plants.

No confirmation of the -rumour can be obtained, and, if such an assurance has been given, it seems unlikely that t.ie reason was as suggested. If it were correct, an importer pointed out

yesterday, it would be reasonable to expect that the assurance should apply mily to knocked-down cars, yet l.cences had already been issued for Lie import of assembled cars on the same basis as last year. He suggested that a more likely reason why imports of motor-cars should not be heavily restricted was that they wore continuously revenue producing. by 1 way of tyre and petrol tax.

It is understood that motor firms generally will be satisfied if imports are restricted merely to the amount imported in the first half of last year, because it is not expected that the demand will be quite so great this year.