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Aspects of the Trade in India
Page 125
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IN a Department of Overseas Trade report which has recently been issued dealing with trade in India, particulars are given of the imports of motorbuses, vans and lorries, and it is shown that there was a setback from 15,306 vehicles in 1929-1930 to 8,913 vehicles in 19301931. Of the latter total 2,983 vehicles were imported with bodies and 5,930 as chassis, the comparable figures for the previous year being 4,965 and 10,341 respectively The disturbed state of the country has had a serious effect.
Of the total imports 6,197 vehicles were received from the United States, 2,397 from Canada, 258 from the United Kingdom and 61 from other countries.
There was a definite falling off in the supplies of each country, but that in connection with Canadian vehicles was the least pronounced. The average value of the vehicles imported from the United Kingdom increased, owing to the larger proportion of heavy bus chassis imported into Calcutta.
With the exception of Calcutta and Bombay, where tramways and other transport companies operate fleets of heavy vehicles, mostly of British make, the services throughout the country are almost exclusively run with light American vehicles. The reason is that. the Indian who promotes a transport organization has usually only a limited amount of capital, and he is, therefore, attracted by cheap vehicles, which are often bought on the hire-purchase principle and run to destruction during the first two years, thus avoiding the need for a repair and maintenance organization.
So long as such conditions prevail, and due weight is not given to the lasting qualities of the British vehicle, it is difficult to see how United Kingdom makers can obtain a better footing. Wherever transport companies are operated on modern lines and the subject of maintenance receives proper attention the British vehicle has a better chance, but such organizations are still comparatively rare in India.