H—4o

The figures outline sharply the great increase in the relative position of road transport which has taken place during the past twenty years. Road transport in its varied forms has increased its importance relative to railways during the twenty years 1929 to 1949, and the indications are that this trend will continue. Groivth of the Industry ; The following table shows the heavy and light trucks licensed for pre-war and post-war years :

Table J —Heavy and Light Trucks Licensed as at 31st March Under Motor-vehicles Act, 1924

While there has been a spectacular increase in the numbers of heavy and light trucks on the road, the number of vehicles carrying " goods " for reward has shown a smaller but nevertheless important increase, as will be seen from the following table (Table K) —

Table K —Goods-service Vehicles Licensed under Transport Licensing Act, 1931, as at 31st March

The figures in Table K indicate that there has been a considerable increase in licensed road transport since 1940. The Transport Licensing Act, 1931, now incorporated in the Transport Act, 1949, while limiting new entrants to the industry, has not prevented expansion to meet the needs of the increased volume of production which has been such a marked feature of the post-war years. Dominion Total Figures—Trends ; Table 62 shows the total figures for cost, revenue' vehicle-miles, &c., for the goods-service industry. These figures have been computed from large sample figures, and are considered to give a reasonable picture of the industry as a whole. They cover all services, including public works and mail contracts.

29

• —- 1940. 1949. Percentage Increase. Heavy trucks Light trucks 18,824 22,043 32,637 41,168 73-4 86-8 1 40,867 73,805 80-6

— 1940. 1949. 1 Percentage Increase. No. 1 District No. 2 District Nos. 3 and 5 Districts No. 4 District 3,150 2,951 1,719 914 4,374 3,734 1,845 1,475 38-9 26-5 7-3 61-4 8,734 11,428 30-8