F.—l

14

Graph showing the Total Number of Motor-vehicles of all Classes registered Monthly from April, 1925.

REFUND OF DUTY ON MOTOR-SPIRITS. The Motor-spirits Taxation Act, 1927, which, prescribes that persons using motor-spirits for purposes other than as fuel for a motor-vehicle in respect of which an annual license fee is payable under the Motor-vehicles Act, 1924, came into operation on the 7th January, 1928. The Act prescribed that all claims for refunds had to be made within a period of ninety days from the date of consumption of the motor-spirit. The experience gained in dealing with refunds during the first two quarters showed clearly that sufficient time in which to lodge applications had not been allowed by the principal Act. In 1928 steps were taken, therefore, to amend the principal Act to provide that claims are to cover the quarterly periods ending respectively on the last days of March, June, September, and December in each year. The time allowed for lodging claims was extended to permit of applications being lodged at any time during the month following the close of a quarterly period. Now that claimants are more fully acquainted with the requirements of the Act, it is hoped that complaints will be reduced to a minimum. Return showing the Amount of Duty refunded on Motor-spirit consumed during the Year ended 31st December, 1928. at ~i. c m • Amount Refunded. JN umber oi Claims. „ , £ s. d. March quarter .. .. .. .. 2,773 6,902 10 5 June quarter .. .. .. .. .. 4,142 14,576 611 September quarter .. .. .. .. 4,186 12,820 5 2 December quarter .. .. .. .. 5,290 14,828 14 1 Total .. .. .. .. 16,391 £49,127 16 7 DEPARTMENTAL MOTOR-VEHICLES. At the 31st March, 1929, there were in use by the Department 116 motor-cars ; 432 motorlorries, trucks, and vans ; and 37 motor-cycles —a total of 585 vehicles. During the year 124 new vehicles were purchased, and 94 vehicles were withdrawn from service for disposal at auction. WORKSHOPS. Throughout the year the workshops at the four principal centres and in certain of the smaller towns coped successfully with the upkeep of departmental equipment, which, especially in regard to electrical and mechanical appliances, is steadily increasing both in variety and in extent. The departmental motor fleet was adequately maintained, practically the whole of the work of overhauling and repairing being undertaken in the Department's workshops. In addition, other Departments largely availed themselves of the facilities afforded by the Post and Telegraph workshops for attending to motor-vehicles. At Wellington and Auckland a number of motor-bodies of the commercial type have been built, including four thirty-seat-bus bodies on account of the Education Department for the conveyance of school-children at Ruawai, North Auckland.