H.—4o,

1938. NEW ZEALAND.

TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

The Hon, R. Semple, Minister of Transport, Wellington. Sir, — Transport Department, 30th June, 1938. Herewith I have the honour to submit the annual report of the Transport Department for the year ended 31st March, 1938. I have, &c., G. L. Laurenson, Commissioner of Transport.

INDEX TO CONTENTS.

PAGE 1. Introductory .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 2. Development of Motor Transport — A. Registration of Motor-vehicles, by Types of Vehicles .. .. .. .. .. 4 B. Registrations of Motor-vehicles, by Country of Manufacture .. .. .. .. 4 C. Motor-vehicles licensed as at 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. .. .. ..6 I). Motor-vehicle Registration-plates .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 8 E. Motor-vehicles actually on the Road .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 F. Petrol-consumption .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 9 3. Roads— A. Alterations in Restrictions as to Loading and Speed of Heavy Motor-vehicles .. .. 9 B. Present Position as to limitation of Loads on Roads .. . . .. .. .. ..10 C. Traffic Census: Preliminary Results.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..11 I). Road Finance — (i) Dominion's Road Bill, 1933-34 to 1936-37 .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 (ii) Annual Charges per mile on Roads, Streets, &c., 1933-34 to 1936-37 .. .. ..15 (iii) Motor-taxation — Yield of Petrol-tax, 1927-28 to 1937-38 .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Distribution of Petrol-tax, 1937-38 . . .. .. .. .. 16 Refunds of Petrol-tax, 1937-38 .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Mileage-taxation .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 17

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