A NEW RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 91, 19 April 1939, Page 10

A NEW RECORD

MOTOR VEHICLES 1

REGISTRATIONS OVER

300,000

ANNUAL LICENSING

Throughout May the Post Office will be carrying out its annual task of issuing renewals of motor-vehicle licences, the new plates being available on May 1. They must be used on and after June 1. Taking a survey of the Dominion's motor-vehicles as at March 31, the figures of the motor registration division of the Post Office show that the total has expanded in a year by 27,478 and stands at 305,828. An analysis of this total is as follows:— m, „ , Percentage pPe- 1* umber. Increase, increase. Cars 212,566 22,012 11.55 Trucks 49,187 2,167 4 61 Others (including trailers) 22,966 5,070 28 33 Cycles 21,109 1,771* 7.74* Totals .. 305.828 27,478 9.87 'Decrease. The most noticeable advance has been in the numbers of private cars, which in the Auckland registration area total nearly 5000 more than on March 31, 1938. The Christchurch increase in the same period has been 3200; in Wellington over 3000, Hamilton 2090, Dunedin 1050, New Plymouth and Palmerston North 1000, and Invercargill 984. Private car ownership has increased since March, 1933, by 95,488 vehicles.

Motor-cycles, on the other hand, have steadily declined in numbers over a period of years. There were 25,105 registrations in 1933, but today's figures show a drop of 4096 compared with that total.

As relicensing is compulsory before June 1 it is hoped that motor owners will take full advantage of the earlyissue of the plates and not find themselves in a long queue towards the end of next month. The Post Office ! will provide ample facilities for quick relicensing if the clerks can deal with a steady stream of applications commencing promptly on May 1. There are 357 deputy registrars of motorvehicles who hold all the details of last year's registrations in their districts, and can at once issue the new plates. It is also possible for motor owners to present their applications at most money-order offices—there are nearly 1000—which will collect the fees and secure the new plates from the nearest deputy registrar. DISTRIBUTION OF MOTORS. Details of motor ownership in all licensing districts as at March 31 last and the variation in numbers compared with March, 1938, are as follows: — Auckland — Cars Increase 4953 Trucks , „ 512 Others „ 809 Cycles Decrease 238 Thames—■ Cars Increase 686 Trucks „ 135 Others „ 173 j Cycles Decrease 17 Hamilton— Cars Increase 2090 Trucks „ 230 Others „ 604 Cycles Decrease 164 Gisborne— Cars Increase 392 Trucks .'... ~ 70 Others „ 148 Cycles Decrease 10 Napier— Cars Increase 840 Trucks „ 87 Others , 222 Cycles Decrease 6£ New Plymouth— Cars Increase 1022 Trucks „ 21! Others „ 126 Cycles Decrease 18S Wanganui— Cars Increase 762 Trucks >, 67 Others „ 178 Cycles Decrease 105 Palmerston North — Cars Increase 1002 Trucks ». 175 Others ' „ 314 Cycles Decrease 98 Wellington— C arg Increase 306? Trucks. ". 229 Others 331 Cycles Decrease 131 Blenheim — C arg Increase 195 Trucks * » J 5, Others „ » H Cycles Decrease 52 Nelson — C ars Increase 645 Trucks" » }°,l Others •• 1*» Cycles Decrease 43 Westport— C ars Increase 152 Trucks ' » ?£ Others > ■• }° q ycles Decrease 14 i Greymouth—• I rara Increase 383 Trucks » °" Others -_ •• ?" Cycles Decrease 14 Chrlstchurch — Cars Increase 3226 Trucks •^•- » 94 Others <» %£> Cycles Decrease 363 Timaru — Cars Increase 382 Trucks » 1° Others •> ?°* Cycles Decrease 120 Oamaru — p.-- Increase 186 0B Trucks .. -» Others » %i Cycles Decrease 3o Dunedin — C ars Increase 1050 Trucks - .. 40 Others _ •> -°= Cycles Decrease 32 Inrercargill—• C ars Increase 984 Trucks ■» 61 Others » 4|f Cycles Decrease SI