ROAD ACCIDENTS IN N.Z.

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27395, 7 July 1954, Page 13

ROAD ACCIDENTS IN N.Z.

COST IN 1952 PUT AT £8,000,000

(New Zealand Press Association) m WELLINGTON, July 6. The economic cost of road accidents in 1952 was estimated at more than £8,000,000, and this could, not take into account pain and suffering, said the Minister of Transport (Mr W. S. Goosman) in a foreword to the annual report of the Transport Department, tabled in the House of Representatives today. He added that in comparison with pre-war years there had been an increase in the number of persons killed or injured, but there were now 230.000 more vehicles on the road than in 1939. In the calendar year, 1939, the number of persons killed every 10,000 motor vehicles was 8.8; in 1953 it was 6X Since 1936 there had been a steady decrease in New Zealand’s fatal accident rate, and it continued to be one of the lowest in the world. The Minister said the total annual cost of operating motor vehicles in New Zealand had now reached the impressive figure of £125,000,000. or about £6O a head of population. About £14,500,000 of this total was taxation specially set aside for reading.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AMENDMENT BILL (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 6. To enable persons who have already undergone some similar training, such as registered nurses and physiotherapists, to obtain concessions in their period of training for an occupational therapist is the object of an Occupational Therapy Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Representatives today. The period of training for registration as an occupational therapist is at present fixed at not less than two years nor more than three years and six months. The bill repeals this and enables the period of training to be prescribed by regulations.