H.—40.

The difficulty of obtaining relevant data from the local authorities concerned was stressed in last year's annual report, and investigations are now in hand with a view to amending if possible the regulations in order that the preparation of the expenditure figures may be simplified, thus effecting a considerable saving in expense to both the Government and the local authorities, and reducing the present unavoidable delay in finalizing an apportionment. (b) Limitation of Loads on Roads. With the exception of the few local authorities which have not yet classified their roads at all, generally speaking rural roads are now classified in accordance with the policy proposed by the Department, whereby the maximum classification on any rural road is Class 111, except in the case of areas adjacent to the larger centres and where the road is of a high type of construction. Alterations in classification have been effected during the year by various rural-road controlling authorities, and also in a number of instances by certain of the smaller boroughs and town districts where the treets are of light construction. The following tables show the existing position with regard to the classification of rural roads in general, and also of main highways in rural areas : —

(i) Classification of Rural Roads.

(ii) Classification of Main Highways.

Maps of each Island showing in colours the present classification of main highways are available to the public on application to the Transport Department. In order that the latest classification may be shown, the map is prepared when a request is received, the charge being ss. 8. TRAFFIC CENSUS. During the period under review the first traffic census of more than purely local interest ever taken in New Zealand was carried out, and, although this census did not include urban areas or rural roads other than main highways, yet the information obtained will prove invaluable in the study of roading and traffic problems. In the first annual report of the Department for the year ended 31st March, 1930, the need for a road census was stressed, and in Great Britain such a census has been taken at regular intervals since the year 1922. The following extract from the report on the traffic census of 1925 by the Ministry of Transport, G-reat Britain, summarizes the position : — " It will be recognized that the modern expansion of motor traction on the one hand and the instant demand for strict economy in public expenditure on the other impel road engineers and highway administrators to seek reliable information regarding the character, volume, and density of the traffic using the highways, as well as of the obstruction caused by such traffic. " For traffic-regulation data seem increasingly necessary both for public safety and the economical utilization of existing highways. Data on the movement of highway traffic are of increasing necessity to determine the relationship of highway transport to other transportation, and thus to make possible the most economical use of all available traffic agencies. Arrangements were made during the year under review whereby the Main Highways Board and the Unemployment Board, with the co-operation of the various road-controlling authorities, should finance and carry out a traffic census on the more important main highways in the country. It was also arranged that this Department should carry out the analysis of the data thus acquired. A census was taken of all traffic passing some 370 selected points, representing the greater part of the main-highway system of New Zealand. The traffic was tallied over a period of a week in August and a further week last January, it being considered that the two sets of results would provide a good indication of the average volume of traffic throughout the year.

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— Eo?d e s d ClassIL Class III. Class IV. Class V. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. North Island .. .. .. 25,736 349 4,394 8,113 3,111 15,967 South Island .. .. .. 21,735 821 4,059 2,292 312 7,484 Totals .. .. 47,471 ! , 1,170 8,453 10,405 3,423 23,451 I I

J Highways. : Glass IL ClaSS IIL ° laSS IV ' ° la38 V " Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. North Island .. .. .. 6,175 220 2,438 2,697 375 5,730 South Island .. .. . • 4,962 572 2,629 216 23 3,440 Totals .. .. 11,137 792 5,067 2,913 398 9,170