H,— 4o

REPORT.

1. INTRODUCTORY. The principal activities of the Department during the year have comprised the various actions associated with the administration of the Transport Licensing Act, 1931, which provides an annual licensing system for commercial passenger and freight services carried on by motor-vehicles the administration of the Motor-vehicles Act, 1924 ; and the Heavy Motor-vehicle Regulations, which deal with the control of motor traffic generally and the use of roads by the heavier classes of motorV6hl Approximately 750 passenger-service and 2,000 goods-service licenses were renewed during the year The actual decisions regarding each license are made by the various District Licensing Authorities but now that the licensing-system is settling down the Department is taking active steps to ensure that the licensed services have reasonable fares and charges and provide a satisfactory standard of service. Properly qualified officers call on the operators and go into their systems accounting and records, and a full report on each case is then placed before the appropriate Licensing ĀUth The y problem of the control of motor traffic m the interests of public safety assumes larger proportions each year. On the one hand the number of convictions for breaches of traffic laws now represents approximately 30 per cent, of the total convictions m the Magistrate s Courts, whiles on the other hand motor accidents continue to take a growing toll of human life and property. The Department has this matter under constant review, and during the year a special check-up was made on brakes and lights in order to minimize the risk of accidents due to mechanical defects m these parts of the motor-vehicles. The check was made on a Dominion-wide scale, and constituted an important step in directing the attention of the motorist to the necessity for keeping his vehicle up to a satisfactory standard of fitness. Mention of this and other steps taken by the Department would be m complete without special mention of the splendid co-operation which is always so readily forthcoming from the various local authorities and motor organizations. Legislation providing a system of licensing, similar in many respects to that m force m connection with motor transport, was promoted during the year in respect of commercial air transport. A considerable amount of investigational work was carried out during the year, Several sta ments dealing with the problems of motor-taxation, road finance and transport rates, and competition were placefbXe the Transport Co-ordination Board. At the request of the Dairy Industry Commission the Department also carried out an inquiry lasting over several months into the problem, of milk and cream collection by motor-trucks in the Dominion. 2. MOTOR-VEHICLES INSURANCE (THIRD-PARTY RISKS) ACT, 1928. (a) Statistics. For the year ended 31st May, 1934, forty-four insurance concerns gave the prescribed notice to undertake business under the Act, and carried on business accordingly. The net income from pre» for that year excluding, of course, any relating to the 1934-35 licensmg-year, amounted to £221,73 , after taking into account adjustments on account of extra premiums due to changes m the classification of the vehicle and the cancellation of registrations, and allowance for the commission of the Post and Teleg ClMms D durii!rthe year, including costs, together with the liabilities in respect of outstanding claims Tsist May, 1934, Amounted to £198,614, or 89-57 per cent, of the net total of premiums received. gtowg f]le exper i en oe of the scheme during the four years ended 31st May, 1934. It should be noted that the figures for claims do not represent the amount paid during each year,' but refer to accidents happening during each particular period. ■"""™™| ft*. . nnirl anrl I

1 Comparison between the claim ratios for the third-party-risks insurance and other branches of accident insurance show in most cases higher figures for the former than the latter. This can e

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Claims paid and ilistiRevenue from mated Liability for Claim Ratio. Year ended 31st May, Premiums. Claims outstanding at 31st May-. £ £ Per Cent. 1 nor. . .. 235,007 202,380 86-12 JS? •' .. 242,864 186,379 76-74 iqoi " " .. 233,731 161,352 69-03 '• •' '■ 229,133 151,095 65-94 Jg3 -- •• 221,734 198,614 89-57 Totals .. •• ••