§ 43. Mr. Collinsasked the Minister of Supply if he will make a regulation to prevent the resale of motor cars within a period of less than 12 months from the date of original purchase from the manufacturers.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussNo, Sir. I do not consider that a regulation is justified, since the covenant operated by the motor trade is normally adequate to prevent abuses in the resale of motor cars.
§ Mr. CollinsIs my right hon. Friend aware that the covenant is greatly disregarded and that, in accordance with evidence I have sent to him, firms are advertising 1950 cars which already have a mileage of 150 miles, which must be a breach of the covenant? What is he doing in order to protect people who are not taking advantage of this practice?
§ Mr. StraussI am aware that there is a certain amount of what might be called a black market in these cars, but I am informed that it is very small and that many of the advertisements which appear putting these cars on offer are, in point of fact, made to catch buyers of other cars and that these advertised cars do not exist. It would also be advantageous if some provincial papers refused to take advertisements of these cars, as the London papers are doing.