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28. Under arrangement with the New Zealand Counties Association the Department's traffic staff exercises control over the traffic on all roads throughout 122 counties. Similar agreements have been made with a number of the urban authorities, and at 31st March, 1946, some ninety-four boroughs (including one city) had entrusted the control to the Department. During the year agreements were finalized with the following boroughs and town districts: Kaikohe, Takapuna, Devonport, Ellerslie, Mount Wellington (Road District), Ngaruawahia, Waiuku, Hunterville, Richmond, Riccarton, Temuka, Port Chalmers, Green Island, Lawrence, Roxburgh, Nightcaps, and Bluff. 29. Traffic Offences. —Traffic Inspectors attached to the Department reported 10,650 breaches of the traffic laws during the year ended 31st March, 1946. Of this number, 4,183, or over one-third, received warnings, and 6,467 were proceeded against in the Courts. Convictions were recorded in 6,288 cases, the charges were withdrawn in 110 cases, and the balance of 69 cases were dismissed. 30. The following schedule shows comparative figures relating to the number of traffic offences over the last six years :

These figures do not include verbal warnings given in the case of comparatively minor offences against the traffic laws. By far the greater proportion of minor breaches are dealt with by a verbal warning to the offender, and statistics from one district show that for every breach reported 10 verbal warnings have been given. This proportion may be regarded as fairly representative throughout the country. Table No. 13 in the Appendix shows the nature of the offences involved in convictions during the years ended 31st March, 1944, 31st March, 1945, and 31st March, 1946. F. INSPECTION OF MOTOR-VEHICLES All motor-vehicles in the Dominion are required to undergo a periodical mechanical inspection, and for this purpose they may be divided into three main groups—(l) Passenger-service vehicles : (2) G-oods-service vehicles : (3) All other vehicles. 31. Passenger-service Vehicles. —This group comprises all vehicles which cany passengers for hire or reward, and includes omnibuses, trolley-buses, service cars, passenger-trucks, school buses, taxis (excluding taxis in the four main centres, which are inspected by the Metropolitan Licensing Authorities), and rental vehicles. These vehicles are examined each six months by departmental Vehicle Inspectors especially appointed for the purpose. The examination covers all matters which may affect the safety, health, or comfort of the passengers. Departmental officers approve of the plans of proposed passenger-service vehicles to ensure that when vehicles are completed they will comply in all respects with the regulations.

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Year ended 31st March. Offences reported. Prosecuted. Convicted. Charges dismissed. Charges withdrawn. Offenders warned. 1941 .. 7,491 6,032 5,758 108 166 2,431 1942 .. 3,680 2,615 2,475 52 88 1,125 1943 .. 3,961 2,463 2,363 38 62 1,498 1944 .. 5,288. 3,491 3,338 74 79 1,797 1945 .. 7,341 4,803 4,598 76 129 2,538 1946 .. 10,650 6,467 6,288 69 110 4,183