TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 198, 23 July 1941, Page 7

TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENTS.

RELATION TO WAR. NEEDS. (Special.) WELLINGTON, July 22. The outstanding facts of the road transport position, as set out in the Transport Department’s annual report, are a rapid decline in the number of nctv vehicles coming into the country and the marked reduction in the use of petrol. “It appeal’s,” adds this comment. “that the Dominion has no alternative but to face the fact that we may have to make do with our existing transport fleet of motor vehicles for an indefinite period, arid that our supplies of petrol from overseas may he considerably below our normal usage. Rearing in mind the extent to which all classes of motor transport have become woven into our national economy, and their importance for defeme purposes, it Ls clear that if the future is to he adequately safeguarded the existing fleet, of motor vehicles must he carefully nursed to extend their normal useful lives.”

The importance of load transport is shown by the fotal of 7492 licenses in force, including 137 S passenger services. and 4713 goods sendees involving the use of 9483 vehicles. Passenger services last year carried over 30 million persons, and compared with the year 1933 they have increased their passengers hv over 90 per cent, for an increase in vehicle miles of 14 per cent. The gross revenue of the passenger services is now £1,400,000 and net profits nearly £120,000.