H. 40

(c) Motor-vehicles licensed as at 31st March, 1937. The appended figures show the number of motor-vehicles licensed for the year 1936-37 as at 31st March, 1937 (the licensing year expires on 31st May each year) :—

Table No. 1 of the Appendix shows the number of motor-vehicles registered as at 31st December, 1936, grouped according to highway districts. The number of motor-vehicles licensed as at 31st March, 1937, classified according to postal districts, are set out in Table 2. Table No. 3 of the Appendix sets out the number of motor-vehicles licensed each year since 1925. Since the system of registration was instituted there have been several changes, both in definition and in method of classification. An additional complication has been introduced by the fact that whereas since 1932 the number of vehicles " licensed " has been recorded, previously the number of vehicles " registered " was recorded. It is necessary to appreciate the distinction between these terms. When a new vehicle arrives it is registered by the owner and simultaneously is licensed for one year or lesser period. If the license is not renewed the next year the vehicle is classified as a " dormant registration." After a registration has been dormant for two years it is cancelled. If the vehicle is subsequently relicensed it is registered afresh as a new vehicle. Prior to 1932 the number of vehicles licensed was obtained by subtracting from the total registrations the number of dormant registrations. This method was not sound, however, because the date upon which the dormant registrations were totalled did not coincide with that on which the total registrations were ascertained. It has been found necessary to endeavour to arrive at a common basis whereby the growth of the motor-vehicle in New Zealand might be measured from year to year. Table No. 3 shows the result of this effort, but attention is directed to the fact that, owing to the differences of definition and classification, the figures other than the yearly totals cannot be taken as strictly comparable. This table shows the figures as at 31st December each year. The figures for trailers have been excluded from the totals. The chief feature of the table is the steady growth in the numbers of mot or-vehicles in this country, interrupted temporarily during the depression years. The number of " dorman; " registrations—i.e., vehicles which although registered had not been licensed for the current year—as at 31st March, 1937, were as under :—

8

Type of Vehicle. North Island. South Island, j Ne " r^ land Cars .. .. .. .. .. .. 111,869 58,135 170,004 Light tracks (2 tons and under laden) .. .. 17,386 8,903 26,289 Heavy tracks (over 2 tons laden) .. .. .. 12,927 6,333 19,260 Passenger trucks .. .. .. .. .. 790 344 1,134 Omnibuses .. .. .. .. .. 445 174 619 Taxis .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,133 564 1,697 Service cars .. .. .. .. .. 419 284 703 Rental and private-hire cars . . . . .. 346 224 570 Dealers' cars .. .. .. .. .. 1,103 482 1,585 Local-authority road vehicles .. .. .. 1,156 921 2,077 Government vehicles .. .. .. .. 1,450 569 2,019 Trailers .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,807 2,637 5,444 Dealers' motor-cycles .. .. .. .. 96 50 146 Motor-cycles .. .. .. .. .. 15,082 9,119 24,201 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 167,009 88,739 255,748

J gg» I Ag, | Cars .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,067 4,808 7,875 Light trucks (2 tons and under laden) .. .. 2,077 3,054 5,131 Heavy trucks (over 2 tons laden) .. .. .. 880 1,332 2,212 Service cars .. .. .. .. .. 23 37 60 Taxis . . .. . . . . . . ., 31 41 72 Rental and private-hire cars .. .. .. 12 25 37 Contract vehicles and passenger trucks .... 27 49 76 Omnibuses .. .. .. .. .. 15 17 32 Traction-engines .. .. .. 41 74 115 Trailers .. .. .. .. .. .. 508 795 1,303 Tractors .. .. .. .. .. 73 216 289 Motor-cycles .. .. .. .. .. 2,771 4,075 6,846 Other motor-vehicles .. .. .. . . 15 47 62 Totals .. .. .. .. 9,540 14,570 24,110