The San Francisco call., 1908-08-30
TASMANIA MARKET
FOR AMERICAN CARS
Consul Baker Advises Working
Up Trade There for
Automobiles
Reduction of Duty Offers an
Opportunity for Sales;
Demand Good

Consul Henry y. Baker Of Hobart
furnishes the following information
concerning the working UP OF a trade
in American motors in Tasmania and
Australia:
AS the duty on the chassis for motor
cars imported into the commonwealth Of
Australia has been reduced from S5
TO 5 per cent ad vaiorem an opportunity
seems open for increased sale Of Ameri-
can motor cars in this colony. The
former duty was 20 per cent ad va
loren on all imported automobiles, in
elusive OF both body and chassis. The
new tariff raised this duty to 80 per
cent but q later amendment, while
leaving the 55 per cent duty on the
body OF the car, reduced the duty on
the chassis 10 3 per cent and made the
English chassis free. AS by far the
greater part Of the value Of most motor
cars, probably two-thirds is comprised
in the chassis, 4 is thus evident that
considering the motor car as a whole,
a substantial reduction has been made
in the duty. The chassis need. not be
separated from the body Of the car in
shipping IL. but on arrival at destina-
ton the value Of the chassis viii be
separately appraised
HOW THE AMERICAN
CAR Is HANDICAPPED
Tasmania is a country Of fine scenery
and exceptionally good roads. and now
that the tariff on foreign cars has been
materially reduced would probably
prove a good field for American motor
cars II only American manufacturers
had agents in Hobart or even in Mel
bourne, competent to explain their ad-
vantages as compared with the better
understood cars Of English and French
manufacture. which are represented by
direct agents, and II only there were
a few American mechanics here com
petent to DO whatever repair work is
necessary, and II proper facilities could
be afforded Of replacing parts which
may become broken or worn out.
The Tasmanians, while adniring the
design and construction Of American
cars, know that they would have TO
rely on themselves to keep such cars in
order, and that If anything should go
wrong with certain parts II might take
months for new parts 10 be obtained
owing to the fact that most American
automobile manufacturers have made
no adequate arrangements 10 prompt
~ supply needed parts TO users Of
their machines in this part of the
world The facts that American cars
are not fully understood in Tasmania
as compared with the English and
French cars. and that the parts are
difficult Of replacement or repair, have
created a strong prejudice against
them. Moreover, most OF the automo-
biles IN use here which have come from
the United States are cheap cars, well
worth what they cost. no doubt, but
which are, unfortunately, compared
with the higher grade and more ex-
pensive English and French cars It
does not appear TO be appreciated here
that American cars selling for $4,000
and upward possess equal If not supe-
rior merit 10 the high grade cars Of the
countries named. The first motor cars
which ever came into Tasmania were
cheap American makes. which met with
poor success on the hilly roads OF the
island, easily got out Of order and were
difficult 10 repair, thus creating q
prejudice against them which will take
tine and work TO overcome. More re-
Gently however, some improved kinds
OF cheap cars have established a IA
vorable reputation for themselves
The motorists, as a rule, do not ap-
pear TO favor high or even moderate
powered cars. An American car owned
by an American in Launceton is the
highest power car in Tasmania The
cars which are most popular are be-
tween 10 and is horsepower, with null
tiple cylinders, not less than two and
preferably four, with clutch and slid
ing gear transmission not the planet
airy as fitted TO most medium American
cars. Again, they must be able to seat
at least four, as the two seated run
about IS evidently not at all popular
here. II is not easy TO buy IN Tas-
mania gasoline OF the good quality used
IN the United States. The usual motive
power IS naphtha, known locally as
motor spirits" most Of which is only
about es proof. and the best of which
is only Y proof, though, according to
the instructions IN the catalogues OF
some American cars, it should be 7e
proof.
MOTORING TOURISTS IN TASMANIA
About $4,000 tourists from the main
land OF Australia visited Tasmania
during the recent summer season, and
number OF them brought their cars
with them. The metal roads Of Tas-
mania, built originally by convicts. are
superior 10 most Of the roads of the
mainland OF Australia, though they are
very hilly, and make many very sharr
turns.
Cuban streetcar lines are now usinq