H.—4o.

The above table shows a steady growth of the share of new cars obtained by Great Britain up till the depression year of 1933, when 60 per cent, came from that source. Then came a drop following upon the improving economic conditions, with a sudden increase for 1936-37 to 57 per cent., while for 1938-39 a similar percentage is maintained-. Up to 1933-34 a somewhat similar trend is noticeable in the case of commercial vehicles, when 39 per cent, of the total came from Great Britain. Over the past four years this proportion has been slowly declining in favour of American and Canadian vehicles, and the imports from these two countries outnumber imports from Great Britain by over two to one. It should be noted that imports from " Other Countries " have been omitted from the percentage table ; this is because practically all the figures under that heading refer to trailers, 3,409 of the 3,482 vehicles under that heading for 1938-39 being trailers. In the motor-cycle field the British entry shows an increasing predominance since the depression years, and the slight swing-over to American machines has not been maintained. Foreign motor-cycles do not appear to be able to establish any hold on the New Zealand motor-cycle market. C. MOTOR-VEHICLES LICENSED AS AT 31st MARCH, 1939. The appended figures show the number of motor-vehicles licensed for the year 1938-39 as at 31st March, 1939 (the licensing year expires on 31st May each year) :—

The increase in the number of licensed motor-vehicles (all groups) compared with those at the 31st March, 1938, was 27,604, or 9-84 per cent. In this connection it is interesting to compare the ratio of population per vehicle for New Zealand with the latest authentic figures available for overseas countries : — Per Cent. U.S.A., December, 1937 .. .. .. .. .. .. 4-16 New Zealand, March, 1939 .. .. .. .. .. .. 5-23 Australia, June, 1937 .. .. .. .. .. .. 8-60 Great Britain, September, 1937 .. .. .. .. ~16-20 Compared with last year the motor-cycles licensed decreased by 1,771, or 7-74 per cent., whilst motor-cars increased by 22,012, or 11-55 per cent. ; the' increase in trucks licensed was 2,167, or 4-61 per cent., whilst " Other Vehicles " licensed advanced by 5,070, or 28-33 per cent.

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p.. ot United States of; A Year ended 31st March, America or ,, 0t^ er „ T° ta J. Uritain. Canada Countries. Registration. Motor-cycles. 1927 .... 70 30 .. 100 1928 .... 76 24 .. 100 1929 .... 80 20 .. 100 1930 .. .. 81 19 j 100 1931 .. .. 82 18 ..100 1932 .. .. 76 24 | 100 1933 .... 73 26 1 100 1934 .... 73 26 1 100 1935 .... 75 24 1 100 1936 .... 78 20 2 100 1937 .. .. 86 14 .. 100 1938 .. .. 90 10 .. 100 1939 .. .. 90 10 .. 100 Totals 79 20 1 100

Type of Vehicle. North Island. South Island. New Zealand ! otal. ... .. .. .. .. .. 141,285 71,281 212,566 Light trucks (2 tons and under laden) .. .. 18,442 9,352 27,794 Heavy trucks (over 2 tons laden) .. .. .. 14,659 6,734 21^393 Passenger trucks .. .. .. .. .. 1,064 588 1^652 Omnibuses .. .. .. .. .. 492 199 691 Taxis .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,186 509 1,695 Service cars .. .. .. .. .. 393 266 659 Rental and private-hire cars .. .. .. 486 296 782 Dealers'cars .. .. .. .. .. 1,367 586 1,953 Local-authority road vehicles .. .. .. 2,212 2,438 4,650 Government vehicles .. .. .. .. 2,431 1,061 3^492 Trailers .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,319 4,026 9,34-5 Dealers' motor-cycles .. .. .. .. 96 54 150 Motor-cycles .. .. .. .. .. 13,335 7,774 21,109 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 202,767 105,164 307,931