H.—4o.

Section 10 of the Motor-vehicles Amendment Act, 1927, provides that after a registration has remained " dormant " for two complete years it is to be cancelled. The following sets out the 1932-33 registrations cancelled on Ist June, 1935, in accordance with this section: —

(d) MOTOB-VEHICLE REGISTRATION PLATES. The following classes of number-plates were assigned during the licensing year 1935-36 : — (1) For private cars, plates without initial letter 601-99999, inclusive, and with initial letter from XI onwards. (2) For " private-hire " and " rental " cars, plates without letter 1-600, inclusive. (3) Special plates for issuance to cycles. (4) Plates with initial letter " D " (both car and cycle) for dealers' vehicles. (5) Plates with initial letter " E " for vehicles exempted from payment of annual license fees. (6) Plates with the prefix " Govt." for vehicles owned by Government Departments. (7) Plates with initial letter " H " for heavy trucks. (8) Plates with initial letter " L " for light trucks. (9) Plates with initial letter " P " for omnibuses. (10) Plates with initial letter " R " for trailers. (11) Plates with initial letter " S " for service cars. (12) Plates with initial letter " T " for taxis. (13) Plates with initial letter " V " for passenger trucks and " contract " motor-vehicles. (e) Vehicles actually on the Road. The number of " live " registrations on the register kept in accordance with the provisions of the Motor-vehicles Act, 1924, may be taken as a reasonable indication of the number of vehicles actually on the road. The numbers of these "live " registrations have been estimated for each month, and the monthly averages for the twelve-monthly periods ended on 31st March, 1932, to 31st March, 1936, are given hereunder : —

The number of motor-cars on the road shows an increase of 6,227, or 4-8 per cent., and trucks 2,759, or 8-3 per cent., while omnibuses and motor-cycles have continued to decline.

8

Type of Vehicle. Number. Cars 3,811 Light trucks .. .. .. . . .. 1,897 Heavy trucks .. .. .. .. .. 811 Service cars .. .. .. .. .. 50 Taxis .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Passenger trucks .. .. .. .. .. 11 Rental and private-hire cars .. .. .. 6 Motor-buses .. .. .. .. .. 22 Traction-engines .. .. .. .. .. 22 Trailers .. .. .. .. .. .. 352 Tractors .. .. .. . . .. .. 69 Motor-cycles .. .. .. .. .. 2,812 Other vehicles .. .. .. .. .. 19 Total .. .. .. .. .. 9,898

Monthly Averages. Type of Vehicle. ■ ~ " 1932. ; 1933. 1934. 1935. 1936. Number. Number. Number. Number. Number. Motor-cars .. .. 130,889 127,115 123,331 129,277 135,504 Trucks .. .. 26,232 26,907 29,863 33,314 36,073 Omnibuses .. .. 1,048 1,000 1,000 877 525 Traction-engines .. 123 136 140 140 160 Trailers .. .. 1,160 1,545 2,400 2,407 2,538 Tractors .. .. 426 561 600 600 800 Motor-cycles .. .. 23,487 21,995 21,171 21,110 18,431 Other motor-vehicles .. 441 421 420 400 400 Totals .. 183,806 179,680 ; 178,925 188,125 194,431