iH—40

AID FOR BRITAIN : PETROL RATIONING The petrol allowance for private cars, which was based on the following scale, remained unchanged during the year. Horse-power. Monthly Ration. Under 9-5 h.p. .. .. .. 6 gallons. 9-5 to 14-5 h.p. .. .. .. 9 gallons. Over 14-5 h.p. .. .. .. .. 12 gallons. During the three months commencing December, 1949, coupons Nos. 16, 17, and 18 were made available at double their face value. All coupons are now negotiable during three-monthly periods. As a result of petrol rationing, it is estimated that a saving of 8,000,000 gallons was effected during the year. CHANGES IN TRANSPORT LAW DURING THE YEAR Consolidation of Legislation.—A noteworthy event during the year was the consolidation of all transport legislation in the Transport Act, 1949. The result was that fourteen Acts and five regulations were consolidated into one statute, and numerous sections relating to road transport in other Acts were brought into their proper place. The majority of the amendments were of a drafting nature only, but the following are new matters worthy of mention : (a) Section 17 includes provision making it an offence to apply for registration of a motor-vehicle which has already been registered. (b) Section 26 includes a new provision which applies this change-of-ownership section to cases when a vehicle is repossessed under a hire-purchase agreement. The notice of transfer then requires to be given by the vendor under the agreement. (c) Section 37 provides that exemption of ambulances from speed-limits applies only when the ambulance is fitted with a siren or bell. (d) In the transport licensing sections, what were formerly regulations for including goods services in the licensing control have now been brought in as legislation, and the former controlled areas are termed " goods-service districts." (e) In section 99, defining the proper Licensing Authority to deal with licences, the Minister is given greater scope than formerly for the appointment of the Licensing Authorities, and for delegation to them of the licensing powers. (/) In general, where notice of sittings is provided for, fourteen clear days' notice is now substituted for seven clear days' notice. (g) In section 110, provision is made for harbour-ferry licences to have a duration of ten years. Regulations.—The following new regulations were passed : Heavy Motor-vehicle Regulations 1940, Amendment No. 7 (Serial No. 1949/52). — This effected changes in road classification provisions, and also increased the maximum speed for buses and service cars to 40 m.p.h. Motor-vehicles Insurance (Third-party Risks) Regulations 1949, Amendment No. 8 - (Serial No. 1949/59). —This effected the annual review of third-party insurance premiums. Transport (Harbour-ferry Services) Applied Provisions Order 1949 (Serial No. 1949/61). —This applied the transport licensing provisions to harbour-ferry services in Auckland Harbour.

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