ROAD TRANSPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23353, 19 November 1937, Page 15

ROAD TRANSPORT

DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT RECORD CAR REGISTRATIONS BRITISH VEHICLES PREDOMINATE BIG INCREASE IN TAXATION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. The highest figure yet recorded In the registration of new cars— or a daily average of over 70 —was attained during the year, ended March 31 last. This statement is contained in the annual report of the Transport Department, which was tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday. During the same period the registrations of commercial vehicles (8999) again exceeded the peak year. Statistics compiled by the department show a steady growth of the share of new cars obtained by Britain up till the depression year of 1933, when 60 per cent, came from, that source. Then came a drop following upon the improving economic conditions, with a sudden increase for 1936-37 to 57 per cent. This increase during a boom period is no doubt due to the increased prosperity of the community. For the year ended March 31, 14,556 cars were imported from Britain, compared with 11,133 from the United States and Canada. In the case of commercial vehicles the imports from the United States of America and Canada out-numbered com-mercial-vehicle imports from Great Britain by over 2 to 1, the figures being 4991 and 1955 respectively. In the motor-cycle field the British entry shows an increasing predominance since the depression years, and the slight swing-over to American machines has not been maintained. For the year ended March 31, imports of motor-cycles from Britain numbered 2600. compared with 419 from America.

Third Party Risks For the year ended May 31, 1936, 44 insurance concerns undertook business under the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act. The claims paid again exceeded the revenue from premiums, the amounts being £320,621 and £230,696 respectively. The estimated quantity of petrol consumed by motor transport during the year was 72,107,051 gallons, or 9,300,000 gallons in excess of the figure for the previous peak year—l93o. In 1928 the figure was 41,457,150 gallons, which shows the tremendous increase in petrol consumption in the Dominion. Motor Taxation Motor taxation again shows a substantial increase, this year’s figure being £385,000 above that for the previous year. This item comprises 28.7 per cent, of the road bill and is gradually approaching the amount provided by local rates. Whereas the amount expended from local rates in 1930-31 exceeded that from motor taxation by some £1,200,000, the excess is now only £ 125,000. The total amount of revenue from motor taxation for 1936-37 was £5,348,019, the highest figure yet recorded. There has been an increase in every class of revenue. The increase of £895,568 over the previous year is made up as follows: Customs duties on motor vehicles and parts, £263,418; motor spirits tax, £473,846; tyre tax, £52,585; fees and fines under the Motor Vehicles Act, £61,730; and other fees and taxes, £43,992. The net yield from motor spirits taxation was £3,390,644, the corresponding figure for 1936 being £2,917,473, The distribution of the net balance of the yield from motor spirits taxation for the year was as follows: Consolidated Fund, £ 1,524,459; Main Highways Fund, £1.697,942; local authorities £147,647. Expenditure on Roads

The estimated annual expenditure on roads, streets and bridges during 1935-36 amounted to £8,100,000, or £400,000 in excess of the 1934-35 period. Expenditure on the maintenance of main highways during 1935-36 increased by £ 130,000. The moneys expended by the Main Highways Board on maintenance increased by £90,000, while county expenditure on main highways maintenance out oi revenue increased by £40,000. Expenditure on other roads increased by £142,000, due to county councils increasing their expenditure out of revenue by £106,000 and to the public works increasing their expenditure out of the Consolidated Fund. The cost of the construction of main highways has increased by £ 197,000, of which the increase in Main Highways Board expenditure accounts for £ 146,000 and the increase in County Council payments for the balance, £30,000 being loan moneys and £15,000 being unemployment relief expenditure. A decrease of £70,000 is shown under the heading of construction of other roads, due largely to a decrease in Public Works Department expenditure by £65,000. Public works expenditure from the unemployment funds decreased by £ 137,000, but expenditure from the Public Works Fund increased by £72,000 A further 2068 miles of roads were classified according to load limits during the year, bringing the proportions of roads classified to 95 per cent, for main highways and 54 per cent for rural roads.