MOTOR VEHICLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22142, 22 June 1935, Page 15

MOTOR VEHICLES

INCREASE IN DOMINION LICENCES 17,197 GREATER CARS TOTAL 93,438 [by telegraph—OWN correspondent"] WELLINGTON, Friday Registrations of motor vehicles for the whole Dominion at May 31 last show a general increase over those at the corresponding date of 1934 of 17,197, or 14.67 per cent. The total number of registrations was 134,451, of which 88,192 were effected in the North Island and 46,259 in the South. As the allocation of main highways funds has to bear close relation to the revenue collected respectively from North and South Islands, it is of interest to note that the South Island registrations show a slightly larger increase in comparison with those in the North, although the extent will not appreciably affect the main highways allocations, as the difference is that of a decimal point. A comparison of the increases in each island on a percentage basis is as follows: Increase Per cent North Island .. .. 11,257 14.03 South Island . . . . 5.940 14.74 In almost every phase of motor transport the two islands preserve their relative proportions, excepting in the case of trailers, which are much more numerous in the South Island. The distribution of all classes of motor transport is as follows: — North South Island Island Cars 61,241 32.197 t Benfal cars .. .. 125 100 Light trucks .. 8,663 4,506 Heavy trucks .. .. 7,583 3,520 Passenger trucks 368 215 Buses 353 130 Taxis 881 449 Service cars .. ». 374 195 Trailers 473 632 Dealers' ears .. .. 621 294 Local body vehicles .. 727 388 Government vehicles .. 960 426 Dealers' motor-cycles .. 44 29 Motor-cycles .. .. 5,824 3,178

Tho Main Highways Board closely follows the proportion of motor registrations in making its expenditure, and in the year 1933-34 its distribution of funds for maintenance and construction was £586,667 in tho North Island, being 66.4 per cent of the total, while tho South Island construction and maintenance totalled £314,736, or 33.6 per cent of the total. On the most recent figures, these proportions can at least be maintained, if not varied slightly in favour of the South.