H.—4o

Full details of the census will be included in the next annual report.

D. ROAD FINANCE. I. DOMINION'S EOAD BILL, 1934-37. The Department has investigated the numerous statistical data available from official sources and has analysed and classified them in order to show approximately what the roads, streets, and bridges are costing under the headings of construction, maintenance, and loan charges. The figures which have been analysed relate to the four years ended 31st March, 1937. The classification of the roads into main highways, urban roads and streets, and other roads has been carried out, as each class of road or street has differing problems attached to it. This classification has involved a certain amount of estimation, as also have certain aspects of the figures for the whole road bill. Any estimations have been made on a conservative basis, and the figures are sufficiently close to actual fact to form a basis for reliable broad conclusions. Attention is directed to the fact that certain adjustments have been made to the figures published in reports prior to 1937, while in the 1936-37 figures it has been necessary to estimate the figures for interest charges on local-body loans for roading purposes.

12

xr. , ~ i ■ i Daily Number of Highways District. Motor-vehicles. ; Section of Highway. No. Name. I? 34 " 35 !? 37 " 38 Census. Census. 1 Auckland North . . Hikurangi-Whangarei .. .. 459 830 Whangarei-Dargaville .. .. 146 207 Warkworth-Birkenhead .. .. 374 638 2 Auckland South .. Helensville-Henderson .. .. 424 725 Manurewa-Drury .. .. .. 1,515 3,040 Hamilton-Rotorua .. .. .. 722 1,425 3 Tauranga .. . . Waihi-Tauranga . . . . .. 300 510 Whakatane-Opotiki . . . . 142 450 Rotorua-Taupo .. .. .. 143 289 4 Gisborne .. . . Matawai-Gisborne . . .. .. 184 272 Gisborne-Wairoa via Morere .. .. 242 324 5 Napier .. .. Napier-Hastings .. .. .. 1,415 1,768 Waipawa-Waipukurau .. .. 595 786 Dannevirke-Woodville .. .. 647 923 6 King Country . . Te Kuiti - Pio Pio . . .. . . 240 417 Te Kuiti - Taumarunui .. .. 142 251 7 Taranaki .. .. Awakino-Waitara . . .. .. 239 429 Stratford-Eltham . . .. .. 726 968 8 Wanganui . . . . Patea-Waverley .. .. .. 440 585 Wanganui-Bulls .. .. .. 491 891 Bulls-Greatford .. .. .. 329 483 9 Wellington West .. Palmerston North - Woodville .. 592 881 Foxton-Levin .. .. . . 445 779 Johnsonville-Paremata .. .. 876 1,722 Lower Hutt - Upper Hutt . . . . 1,168 1,841 10 Wellington East . . Pahiatua-Eketahuna . . . . 247 485 Masterton-Carterton .. .. 742 1,181 11 Nelson .. .. Nelson-Richmond .. .. .. 759 1,110 Blenheim-Seddon .. . . . . 129 191 12 West Coast . . . . Westport-Inangahua . . . . 69 137 Reefton-Greymouth .. . . 163 251 Ross-Weheka .. .. .. 57 83 13 Canterbury North . . Kaikoura-Parnassus .. .. 91 208 14 Canterbury Central .. Kaiapoi-Christchurch .. .. 1,315 2,088 Christchurch-Sockburn . . . . 1,824 2,950 Springfield-Bealey .. .. .. 9 40 15 Canterbury South . . Ashburton-Hinds . . . . .. 263 525 Temuka-Timaru .. .. .. 959 1,561 Pairlie-Cave . . . . . . 128 229 16 Otago Central .. .. Oamaru-Palmerston . . . . 418 700 Cromwell-Arrowtown . . . . 116 149 17 Otago South .. .. Green Island - Mosgiel .. .. 1,045 1,479 Milton-Balclutha .. .. .. 333 578 18 Southland .. .. Gore-Mataura .. .. . . 399 653 Winton-Limehills .. .. ... 274 423 Invercargill-Lorne .. .. . . 1,257 1,717