H.—4o

D. MOTOR-VEHICLE REGISTRATION PLATES. The following classes of number-plates were assigned during the licensing year 1937-38 : — (1) For private cars, plates without initial letter from 1001 onwards, the highest number manufactured being 202,000. (2) For " private-hire " and " rental " cars, plates without letter 1-1999, 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 vehicles licensed on the register kept in accord with the provisions of the Motorvehicles Act, 1924, may be taken as a reasonable indication of the number of vehicles actually on the road. The number of vehicles licensed have been estimated from month to month, and the averages for the years ending on the 31st March, 1934, to the 31st March, 1938, are given hereunder :■ —

There has been an increase in the number of all classes of motor-vehicles on the road excepting motor-cycles and service cars, which show a slight decline. The following table shows the relative increase or decrease in the various classes of vehicles on the road from year to year for the period under review : —•

8

Averages. Class of Vehicle. 1934. 1935. 1936. 1937. 1938. Number. Number, Number. Number. Number. Cars .. .. .. .. 117,867 124,204 135,220 152,819 172,899 Trucks, light, up to 2 tons laden .. 17,643 19,840 21,281 23,499 24,214 Trucks, heavy, over 2 tons laden .. 13,708 14,394 15,539 17,310 18,965 Omnibuses .. .. .. 518 511 531 575 622 Taxis .. .. 1,493 1,518 1,627 1,659 1,682 Rental cars .. .. . . 131 215 333 474 601 Service cars . . . . . . 965 735 670 656 648 Dealers'cars .. .. . . 853 1,003 1,221 1,475 1,687 Local-body road vehicles .. 1,147 1,198 1,430 1,762 2,276 Government vehicles .. .. 1,378 1,444 1,546 1,806 2,374 Dealers' motor-cycles .. .. 127 123 128 133 135 Motor-cvcles .. .. .. 21,113 21,063 20,602 20,631 19,947 Trailers" .. .. .. 2,400 2,107 2,894 3,796 5,119 Passenger-trucks .. .. * 628 795 977 1,190 Totals .. .. .. 179,343 188,983 203,817 227,572 252,359 * Included under other headings for 1933-34.

Class of Vehicle. 1934. 1935. 1936. 1937. 1938. Cars .. .. .. .. . ■ 100 105 115 130 147 Tracks — Light .. .. .. .. .. 100 112 121 133 137 Heavy .. .. .. .. 100 105 113 126 138 Omnibuses .. .. .. .. 100 99 102 111 120 Taxis .. .. .. .. .. 100 102 109 111 113 Rental cars .. .. .. .. 100 164 254 362 459 Service cars . . . . . . . . 100 76 69 68 67 Dealers' cars .. .. .. .. 100 117 143 173 198 Local-body road vehicles . . .. . 100 104 125 154 198 Government vehicles .. .. .. 100 105 112 131 172 Dealers' motor-cycles . . . . . . 100 97 101 105 106 Motor-cycles .. . . . . . . 100 100 98 98 94 Trailers .. . . . . . . . . 100 88 120 158 213 Passenger-trucks .. .. .. .. * 100 127 156 189 Totals .. .. .. .. 1.00 105 114 127 141 * Included under other headings for 1933-34.