MOTOR FIGURES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 121, 22 April 1938, Page 5

MOTOR FIGURES

TOTALS EXCEED 278,000. FORMIDABLE RELICENSING TASK. The latest compilation of motorvehicle license figures prepared by the transport division of the Rost Office shows what a formidable task faces this department next month when the relicensing process will begin, the new plates having to he used on June 1. 'These figures, which include all registrations up till March 31, show that there are 278.350 motor-vehicles on the register, and as the registrations since that date have been well maintained, it can he assumed that the licenses to bo issued from May 2 will exceed 282,000. Special facilities arc being organised by the .Post Office to save the time of motorists, and the relicensing process will lie well distributed throughout. the Dominion among 357 deputyregistrars. Those who take out their new license on May 2, or as soon afterwards as possible, will avoid the inconvenience which will arise if the relicensing of tho 282,000 vehicles is too long delayed. An analysis of the types of licensed motor-vehicles . and their distribution, with a comparison of these figures with those of the corresponding date in 1937, shows the following points of importance

Increases in the number of licensed motor-cycles occurred in only two of the licensing districts, these being Auckland (35) and Gisborne (44). The substantial rise in the total of licensed motor-vehicles described as “others” is due mainly to the increasing popularity of trailers, which have to be licensed separately from the propelling vehicle and are included in the general figures. DISTRIBUTION of motors. Details of motor ownership in all the licensing districts as at March 31 last and the variation in numbers, compared with March of last year are as follows : Auckland.—Cars, increase 5050; trucks, 130; others, 584; cycles, 35. Thames.—Oars, increase 832; trucks, others, 149; cycles, decrease 58. Hamilton.—Cars, increase 1938' trucks, (3; others, 349; cvcles, decrease 311. Gisborne. Cars, increase 474; trucks. 99; others, 115; cycles. 44. ’ Napier—Cars, increase, 763; trucks, 111; others. 203; cycles, decrease 58. New Plymouth.—Cars, increase 1027; trucks, 207; others, 83; cvcles decrease 113. Wanganui.—Cars. increase 724 ■ trucks, 8o; others, 96; cvcles, decrease 1 1. Palmerston North.—Cars, increase 1120; trucks, 145; others, 225; cycles decrease 113. Wellington.—Cars, increase 2679; trucks. (9; others, 328; cycles decrease 85. Blenheim.—Cars. increase 22° • trucks, 11; others, 68; cvcles, decrease 38. Nelson.—Cars, increase 355; trucks, 4 : others, 95; cycles, decrease 87. Westport.—Cars, increase 136 : trucks 9; others 9; cycles, decrease 6. Greymouth.—Cars, ' increase 223; trucks, decrease 7; others, increase 59; cycles, decrease 37. Christchurch.—Cars, increase 2410; trucks. 100; others, 557; cvcles, decrease 114. Timaru.—Cars, increase 526; trucks. 7; others, 192; cycles, decrease 122. Oamarii. Cars. increase 130trucks, 24; others, 16; cvcles, decrease 39. Dunedin.—Cars. increase 1126; trucks, 156; others, 253: cvcles, decrease S 3. Invercargill.—Cars. increase 815; trucks, 101; others, 252; cycles decrease 65.

No. Tnc. Tnc. % Cars .... 190,554 20,550 12.09 Trucks .... 47.020 1,471 3.23 Others .... 17,896 3.633 25.47 Cycles .... 22,880 *1,321 *5.46 Totals .... 278.350 24,333 9.58 •Decrease.