MOTORING FIGURES

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1928, Page 6

MOTORING FIGURES

NEW ZEALAND’S POSITION. With one motor vehicle to every 10 persons, this Dominion now stands third, equal with Canada, on the list of motor-vehicle-using countries ofi the world. For these- figures, 1 ' “Chassis,” of the Christchurch Star, is indebted to Mr Julian B. Foster... U.S.A., Trade Commissioner in. New Zealand., On January 1, 1927, the world census of motor vehicles accounted for 27,594,200 vehicles. On January 1, 1928, this total had increased to 29,687,499—that is <by 2,093,290, or 7.6 per cent over the number in. use at the*end of 0926.

The net registration increaso in American ears outside. U.S.A. for 1927 was 17.7 per cent. Although the total of trucks and buses in world use is still far outstripped by the total of passenger cars, yet the commercial, vehicle is increasing in; use at a faster pace than is tlie passenger car. In 1927 cars increased by 7.1 per cent over the 1926 total • at the same time trucks and buses increased, by 10.1 per, cent. Almost 90 per'Cent of > motor vehicles (not including motor cycles) ini use . in the world are American.

In New Zealand 80 per cent, of the cars, 90 per cent of the buses, and 90 per cent of the trucks are American. There. are now, 64 persons in tlie world to each motor vehicle. That is based *• on the world population, of 1,900,000,000 humans and about 29,700,000 motor vehicles. The following table shows the leading positions of countries with the most motor vehicles in relation to population : U.S.A.—Five persons to vehicle. Hawaii.—Eight persons to each vehicle.

Canada. —Ten . persons to each vehicle.

New Zealand.—Ten persons to each vehicle.

Australia.; —Fourteen, persons to each vehicle.

Monaco—Eighteen persons to each vehicle.

In motor cycles tlie census shows 1,944,303 machines in operation on January Ist. 1928. Of that total over 80- per cent, are registered in Europe, and 35 per cent, in the United Kingdom alone. In the United Kingdom there were 693,213 motor cycles in use, an increase of .11 per cent, over the 1926 figures. Germany, however, showed the greatest gain, its, registration in 1927 being 405,000. The countries coming next in order were France 158,000, U.S.A. 124,359, Australia (including Tasmania) 84,683, Italy 35,500.

New Zealand has .35,071 motor cycles, of which 52 per cent, (approximately) are American.

In an estimated total production throughout the world tlasl year of 328,150 (approximately) 58,567, or . almost 18 per cent., were to replace an equal number withdrawn from operation. The net increase was 269,583 or about 13 per cent.