PROPORTION OF CARS TO POPULATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3880, 6 December 1928, Page 2

PROPORTION OF CARS TO POPULATION.

ONE TO EVERY TWELVE PERSONS. Dunedin, December 5. The number and distribution of motor-cars in New Zealand formed the subject of a report to a meeting of District Highways Council No. 17 to-day, when it was stated that the total number of petroldriven vehicles in the Dominion at present was 175,051. The chairman of the council, Mr. F. S. Dyson, said that, taking pe-trol-driven vehicles of all descriptions, the proportion was about one to every eight persons, and on the basis of motor-cars only the proportion was one to every 12 persons. He thought the motor-cars to population in New Zealand was about the second or third highest in the world. The death took place at Wanganui yesterday of Air. W. G. Bassett, a well-known pioneer. The late Air. Bassett was born in New Plymouth, 80 years ago, his parents having arrived from Plymouth in the ship Amelia Thompson some years before. Deceased spent his boyhood on his father’s farm, where operations were frequently interrupted by the visits of hostile ' Alaoris. He subsequently started business in Wanganui as a timber merchant. He leaves a widow, three daughters and two sons. The daughters arei Airs. R. H. Billens of Palmerston North, Airs. W. Bas-sett-i Smith, and Airs. F. L. Hainsworth, both of Wanganui. The sons are Messrs L. H. Bassett and L. E. Bassett, of Wanganui. Air. Bassett is also survived by two brothers, Air. John Bassett, of-the West Coast, South Island, Mr. Richard Bassett, of Te Puke, and a sister, Airs. Clover, of Hamilton, Another sister died at New Plymouth ten days ago.