H.—4o,

1942. NEW ZEALAND.

TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

The Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Transport, Wellington. g IE _ Transport Department, 30th June, 1942. Herewith I have the honour to submit the annual report of the Transport Department for the year ended 31st March, 1942. I have, &c., G-. L. Laueenson, Commissioner of Transport.

REPORT. 1. INTRODUCTION. The following are the salient points recorded in this report: — (1) The shortage of tires caused by the loss of Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies has not so far resulted in any material reduction in road transport. The problem of carrying on in the future with reduced supplies of tires will, however, shortly become the major problem in the road-transport industry. (2) There were 305,793 motor-vehicles licensed at 31st March, 1942, compared with 313,087 at 31st March, 1941 ; motor-car licenses dropped from 215,516 in 1941 to 207,353 in 1942. (3) Extra-load limits of approximately 1 ton were allowed in January and February, 1942, on classified roads in order to offset restrictions on petrol. (4) There was a reduction of approximately 16 per cent, in motor-vehicle traffic in 1941-42 compared with 1940-41. (5) Road accidents in 1941 caused 175 deaths and injuries to 3,589 persons. These figures are 14 per cent, and 15 per cent, respectively below those for the previous year. (6) Convictions for traffic offences numbered 2,615 for 1941-42, against 5,758 for 1940-41. (7) The selection and inspection of vehicles for the armed services, the organization and training of the Emergency Traffic Police Units and the Lines of Communication Motor Transport Units (Army Reserve Transport), as well as the arrangements of special reserves of petrol have thrown a great deal of extra work and responsibility on the four Transport Licensing Authorities and the Department's staff. (8) Public road passenger services in 1940-41 ran 27,000,000 vehicle-miles and carried over 32,500,000 passengers, compared with 26,000,000 miles and 30,500,000 passengers in 1939-40. (9) Licensed goods services ran 113,000,000 truck-miles for a gross revenue of £7,400,000, as against 120,000,000 miles and £7,250,000 for 1939-40. (10) Commercial air services flew 837,000 miles and carried 41,482 passengers, 164,000 lb. of mail, and 206,0001b. of freight during 1941.