TRANSPORT YEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 276, 20 November 1937, Page 10

TRANSPORT YEAR

SOME RECORD FIGURES REPORT TABLED OVER 70 NEW CARS A DAY [ Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Nov. 19. An effective method of showing t'r _■ outstanding features of the year in ; transport matters is used in the a.u- j nual report of the Transport Depan-’ ment for the year ended March 3’,1937, which was tabled in the Hous?of Representatives yesterday by th? i Minister of Transport (the Hon. R : Semple). The principal points ar? ■ summarised as follows: An extension of business in both pa.- ; senger and freight services li-j censed under the Transport Li • i censing Act. Good progress made by the four Dis - ; trict Transport Licensing Authori-I ties in the licensing and control; of the motor passenger ano i freight services, and in improving i the labour conditions in the li-: censed motor freight services. j New-car registrations during the year} were 25,796, or a daily average o: I over 70, the highest figure yet re- j corded; while the registrations of commercial vehicles (8999) again I exceeded the previous peak year, i The estimated quantity of petrol consumed by motor transport during the year was just over 72,000,000 gallons, or 9,000,000 gallons in excess of the figure for the previous peak year, 1930. The receipts from all- classes of motor taxation (including Customs duties in respect of vehicles and parts) was just under £5,350,0011 nearly £900,000 ahead of the figure for the previous year. The estimated annual expenditure on roads, streets and bridges during 1935-36 amounted to £8,100,000, or £400,000 in excess of the figure for the previous year. A further 2068 miles of roads were classified according to load limits during the year. This brings tht» percentages of roads classified to 95 per cent, for main highways and 54 per cent, for rural roads. Persons killed in road accidents numbered 213 during the year, an increase of 10 over the figure for the previous year. A representative conference of all interested sections of the public was convened by the Minister of Transport to consider the road accident problem. A National Road Safety Council was set up to act in an advisory capacity to the Minister of Transport. The traffic regulations were overhauled, and a road code for the guidance of all classes of roadusers was prepared. Copies of the road code and summary of the regulations were supplied to every home and to motorists. Far-reaching measures for road safety instituted. As from April 1, 1937, the Transport Department assumed control of traffic inspectors formerly under the control of the Main Highways Board. General speed limit of 30 miles an hour adopted in borough and town districts and closely-popu-lated areas. New comprehensive system or statistics relating to road traffic accidents instituted. Probation scheme for education oi traffic offences instituted. Considerable increases during calendar year 1936 in convictions for offences of negligent or dangerous driving, excessive speed, and drunk in charge of motor-vehicle. System six-monthly inspections for mechanical fitness of all classes or motor-vehicles, not already required to be inspected, instituted. New provisions relating to the maximum driving hours and periods of rest in respect of the drivers of all commercial motor-vehicles came into operation. The claims paid and estimated liability in respect of outstanding claims under the third-party insurance scheme again exceeded the revenue from premiums received. The number of claims during the year under the agreement relating to hit-and-run drivers was 30, compared with 38 for the previous year. Institution of policy of single ownership of road and rail services overcertain long-distance routes with a view to securing the co-ordina-tion of these services. Expansion in commercial air transport services. Hit-and-run Cases In connection with hit-and-run cases the report remarks that there is a drop of over 20 per cent, in thirdparty insurance claims, as compared with last year’s figures, and no doubt the increase in the maximum penalty brought into effect in August, 1936, for this type of offence (£5OO fine or I five years’ imprisonment, as against, i the former £2O fine) has assisted in • this reduction, altothough the increase I was effective for only part of the year ’covered. Registrations of British cars num- ■ bered 14,556 and those for American ! cars 11,133. The figures show a steady growth of the share of new cars obtained by Great Britain up till the depression year of 1933, when 60 per cent, came from that source. There was a drop following the improving ' economic conditions, with a sudden increase for 1936-37 to 57 per cent. The total number of motor-vehicles licensed as at March 31 last was 255,748, and the number of vehicles actually on the road 227,572. Another Traffic Census “Following the first comprehensive traffic census taken in 1934-35, ai- ■ rangements have been made by the Main Highways Board for a similar census to be conducted during 193738,” states the report. “As previously, this census will be confined to the rural main highways system, and will enable both lhe general increase in traffic volume to be ascertained, and also the trend of traffic in respect of particular routes. As has already been shown by the first census, the results of these traffic surveys prove invaluable in the design of roads for future traffic requirements, the allocation of funds, and in connection with investigations regarding road safety. Actually, however, the main highway system, to which the census relates, constitutes less than quarter of the total milage of formed roads as New

Zealand, although they carry a great deal more than the proportion of the total vehicular traffic. No similar data is available concerning other rural roads nor the urban roads and streets.” Passenger Services During the live years the Transport Act has been in operation there has been a steady increase in the net return to operators of passenger services, and for the year under review, says the report, the returns show a net. proiit of £109,000, representing an advance of nearly 12 per cent, on tire total profits for the previous year and equivalent to a return of 12 per cent, on the total capital invested.