H—4o

Vehicles Condemned and New Vehicles Placed in Service.—During the year 2,533 passenger and goods-service vehicles were withdrawn from service, as compared with 2,573 during the previous year. In addition, 137 vehicles were condemned during the year. This figure shows an increase of 52 over that for the previous year, the increase being largely accounted for by the additional number of goods-service vehicles which were found to be in an unsatisfactory mechanical condition. The small number of vehicles which were condemned, compared with the number which were withdrawn voluntarily, reflects the Department's policy of giving operators adequate warning when vehicles are nearing the end of their economic life. Disruption of public services is thereby avoided. During the year 2,243 new passenger and goods-service vehicles were placed in service, compared with 2,067 during 1948-49. During the calendar year 1949, 8,020 new commercial vehicles and 10,056 new motor-cars were registered. Based on the number of vehicles in operation, this represents an increase of 4 per cent, for cars and 13 per cent, for trucks in their respective groups. Of the cars imported, only one-quarter were used as replacements for worn-out vehicles, and in the case of commercial vehicles only one-third were employed as replacements, the balance being absorbed by expanding services. The unsatisfactory position which exists in respect of motor-car replacements may be gauged from the fact that the number of cars in operation to-day is equal to the total importations over the past twenty-one years. The mechanical condition of motor-cars still continues to decline. The importations since the war have been less than half that for the corresponding period before the war. During the year the Department allocated 380 English cars to taxi operators whose vehicles had reached the end of their economic life. Special licences were issued to importers for the number of cars of various makes nominated by the individual taxi operators who had a case for vehicle-replacement. Purchasers were required to make formal statutory declarations not to dispose of their vehicles within twelve months of the date of delivery without authority. Number of Vehicles.—The number of passenger and goods-service vehicles in operation shows an increase of 956 over the figures for the previous year. Details of vehicles now in operation are set out in Table 22. Ownership of Vehicles. —Table 25 sets out the percentage of vehicles owned by the State, local bodies, and private enterprise. Size of Vehicles.—lnformation relating to the size of the various types of vehicles operating under the Transport Act is set out in Tables 26 to 29. REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL ROAD TRANSPORT Transport Licensing Authorities.—Road transport services are licensed by three District and four Metropolitan Licensing Authorities, the latter dealing only with passenger and taxi services in their districts. Daring 1949-50, 5,868 applications relating to 'transport licences were dealt with by all Authorities, as compared with 9,528 in the previous year —82-5 per cent, of the applications were dealt with by District and 17-5 per cent, by Metropolitan Authorities. Daring the year 7,771 temporary passenger and 12,872 temporary goods service licences were issued to meet unusual conditions and give greater flexibility to the licensing system. Survey of the Industry, 1948-49.—During the year a comprehensive statistical survey of the industry was completed. From this survey it is estimated that vehicles operating under the Transport Act ran approximately 259,000,000 miles during 1949-50, for which a revenue of over £22,000,000 was earned. The total capital invested in the industry amounted to approximately £18,000,000, representing, on the average, £2,611

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