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12. Motor-vehicles (a) General The number of motor-vehicles disposed of during the year 1946-47 was 3,592, as compared with 3,452 for the year 1945-46, an increase of 140. An analysis of the figures shows that a lesser number of mobile trucks and cars was dealt with, whereas an increase was shown in motor-cycles and miscellaneous items. The established procedure of giving release priorities to Government Departments, then to ex-servicemen, and finally to operators generally, has been continued. The allocation of trucks is made by the Transport Licensing Authority, who give preference to recommendations made by the Rehabilitation Department. The supply of trucks from Army and other sources is now a diminishing quantity and during the last few months of the year very few commercial-type trucks have been available for disposal. It is understood that Army has no appreciable establishment of commercial-type vehicles, and any declared surpluses in future will be mainly War Department type vehicles. In view of the decreasing number of vehicles becoming available, it is doubtful whether the existing set-up providing for the allocation and disposal of vehicles is necessary. Consideration will be given at a later stage to the question as to whether all vehicles should not be disposed of by public tender. This would obviate a great deal of work in so far as the Rehabilitation officers and Transport Licensing Authorities are concerned and would, moreover, have the advantage of enabling operators in all parts of the Dominion to participate, irrespective of where the vehicles were located. During the year Army Department declared 1,800 Indian motor-cycles surplus. Some of the machines required reconditioning, and the necessary work is proceeding. Sales were made to ex-servicemen only, on recommendations received from the Rehabilitation Department. On 12th December, 1946, 525 Bren-gun carriers were declared surplus by Army. The carriers were submitted for disposal by public tender and the tenders are at present under consideration. (b) Disposals The following schedules give details of disposals from the inception of the scheme up to 31st May, 1947 :

(i) Disposal by Classes

(ii) Distribution of Sales To.Government Departments .. .. .. .. 2,852 To ex-servicemen .. .. .. .. .. 4,500 To public .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,625 19,977

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— Trucks. Cars. Wrecks, &c. Motorcycles. Total. Sales — To 31st May, J946 .. .. .. Year ended 31st May, 1947 .. 11,238 871 1,324 188 1,517 .1,092 2,306 1,441 16,385 3,592 Total sales 12,109 1,512 2,609 3,747 19,977