H.—4o.

9. TEANSPOET LICENSING ACT, 1931. A. PASSENGER SERVICES, 1935-36. During the year under review the various licensing authorities considered applications for renewal of licenses which had expired, as well as a number relating to new services, and also a large number relating to temporary licenses for services running to race meetings, shows, &c. In order to spread the peak of work involved in dealing with these applications, the continuous and seasonal licenses in the South Island had been made to expire on 31st August, 1935, and those in the North Island on 28th February, 1936. Most of the continuous licenses in the South Island which were renewed as from Ist September last were extended for a three-yearly period expiring on 31st August, 1938, under the terms of section 2of the Transport Licensing Amendment Act, 1935. It is probable that at the forthcoming hearings the renewed continuous licenses in the North Island will similarly be extended for three years ending 28th February, 1939. (a) Continuous Passenger-service Licenses. Table No. 8 of the appendix indicates that of the 738 applications heard, 669 were granted, 28 refused, 28 withdrawn, and 13 deferred. The corresponding figures for the previous year were 771, 720, 16, 30, and 5 respectively. (b) Seasonal Passengek-service Licenses. Only 28 applications were received for seasonal licenses, of which 24 were granted, 2 were refused, and 2 were withdrawn, as compared with 33 during the previous year, when 27 were granted, 2 withdrawn, and 4 deferred. (c) Temporary Passenger-service Licenses. Notwithstanding that arrangements were again made this year for operators running services on a more or less regular basis to race meetings, &c, to procure continuous or seasonal licenses in lieu of numerous temporary licenses, the number of applications for temporary licenses again showed a substantial increase, this year's figure being 3,200, as compared with 2,548 for the previous year. Of these, 64 were refused, as against 32 for the previous year, the remainder being granted. (d) Finances and Traffic Statistics. Tables Nos. 9, 10, and 11 set out respectively the following statements, in so far as they are available, for the five years ended 31st March, 1936 ; the figures for 1931-32 have been estimated, partly from the original returns received from operators, and partly from later returns and from other data, while the figures for the South Island, and hence for New Zealand, for 1935-36 are not yet available : — (1) Traffic and financial operating statistics. (2) Average operating expenses and revenue per vehicle mile. (3) Assets and liabilities, and depreciation written off vehicles. (i) Traffic and Operating Statistics. The most noteworthy feature of the latest figures is the much improved rate of profit for the services generally. The estimated loss for 1931-32, immediately prior to the Act coming into operation, was about £40,000. During the following three years the profits were £5,159, £38,246, and £65,393 respectively. The profits for the North Island only during 1935-36 were £57,345, as against £36,362 for the previous year. If this rate of increase is maintained in the South Island, the total profits for New Zealand will be approximately £103,000 for the year ended 31st March, 1936. The average seating-capacity of the vehicles used in the North Island during the three years ended 31st March, 1936, was 13-4, 13-5, and 15-4 respectively. The corresponding figures for New Zealand are not available, except for 1935, when the average was 13-5. Wages, plus drawings by working proprietors in lieu of wages, were as indicated by the following table : —

5—H. 40.

33

1936. 1935. 1934. 1933. Wages, plus drawings by working proprietors in lieu of wages :— Aggregate— £ £ £ £ North Island .. .. 158,444 156,825 | 160,849 163,479 South Island .. .. •• 61,025 58,815 55,605 New Zealand .. .. 217,850 219,664 219,084 Per vehicle-mile — d. d. d. d. North Island . . .. I 2-50 2-53 2-49 2-o7 South Island .. .. .. 2-21 2-19 2-15 New Zealand .. •• •• 2-43 2-40 2-31 Per vehicle — £ £ £ £ North Island . . .. 234 211 209 196 South Island . . . ■ • • 155 147 162 New Zealand . . • • • • 192 188 186