H.—4o,

(7) Analysis op Traffic, by Type of Vehicle. A comparison of the use of the main highways by different types of motor-vehicles in 1937-38 and in 1934-35 is afforded by Table F.

Table F.—Vehicle-mileage in 1937-38 and 1934-35, according to Type of Vehicle.

This table shows that the great bulk of the increase in the utilization of the highway system by motor-vehicles is due to the increased use of the private car. The use of this type of vehicle on the main highways increased by 62 per cent., although the number on the road increased by only 40 per cent. The use of trade motors of a gross weight in excess of 4J tons has also increased very considerably, while the.use of the lighter truck, from 2 tons to 4J tons gross weight, has decreased. The use of motor-cycles also decreased by 5 per cent, during the period, which was almost in proportion to the reduction in numbers of motor-cycles. The use of trailers increased by over 70 per cent., but the number of trailers on the road increased 140 per cent. Table G shows the extent to which the character of traffic on the main-highway system has changed during the three-year period under review. In 1934-35 the private car provided 67 per cent, of the total use of the highways. In 1937-38, 74- per cent, of the total vehicle-mileage was performed by the private car.

Table G. —Showing Proportion of Highway used by Different Types of Vehicles in 1937-38 and 1934-35.

18

Annual Vehicle-mileage. Increase. vthiclef on th^Road. Increase. Type of Vehicle. 1937-38. 1934-35. Vehicle-miles, j Percentage 1937-38. j 1934-35. Numbers. Percentage Motor-cars „. .. 651,237,380 401,254,355 249,983,025 62-3 179,194 128,261 50,933 39-7 Trade motors — Under 2 tons.. .. 70,359,225 52,070,800 17,682,425 33-6 24,807 20,201 4,606 22-8 2 tons to 44 tons .. 35,425,075 40,950,445 5,525,370* 13-5* ~] 4i tons to 64 tons .. 57,057,530 35,184,175 21,873,355 62-1 J-21,887 15,982 5,905 36-9 Over 6J tons .. .. 11,446,035 6,794,110 4,651,925 68-5 J Total, trado motors .. 174,287,865 135,605,530 38,682,335 28-5 46,694 36,183 10,511 29-1 Public passenger-vohicles— Service cars .. .. 12,619,510 12,631,190 11,680* 0-1* 648 511 137 26-9 Omnibuses .. .. 6,126,525 4,652,290 1,474,235 31-7 622 735 113* 15'4* Total, public passenger- 18,746,035 17,283,480 1,462,555 8-4 1,270 1,246 24 1-9 vehicles — Motor-cycles .. .. 31,871,070 33,686,215 1,815,145* 5-4* 20,082 21,186 1,104* 5-2* Trailers .. .. 7,146,335 4,174,505 2,971,830 71-2 5,119 2,107 3,012 142-9 Miscellaneous .. .. 2,004,945 1,703,090 301,855 17-7 All motor-vehicles ■■ 885,293,630 593,707,175 291,586,455 49-1 252,359 188,983 63,376 33-5 * Decrease.

Proportion of Vehicle-mileage. Type of Vehicle. North Island. South Island. New Zealand. 1937-38. 1934-35. 1937-38. 1934-35. 1937-38. I 1934-35. 0/ O/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ /o /o /O /o /o /o Motor-oars .. .. •• ..73-79 67-57 73-13 67-62 73-56 67-59 Trade motors — Under 2 tons 7-62 8-45 8-56 9-61 7-95 8-87 2 tons to 44 tons : 4-43 7-72 3-20 5-46 4-00 6-90 4J tons to 61 tons 6-82 6-13 5-74 5-57 6-45 5-93 Over 6| tons.. .. .. .. 1-18 1-08, L-51 1-26 1-29 1-14 Total, trade motors 20-05 23-38 19-01 21-90 19-69 22-84 Public passenger-vehicles — Service cars 1-45 2-15 1-38 2-09 1-43 2-13 Omnibuses .. .. .. •• 0-63 0-75 0-81 0-84" 0-69 0-78 Total, public passenger-vehicles .. 2-08 2-90 2-19 2-93 2-12 2-91 Motor-cycles .. .. •• 3-22 5- 34 4-32 6- 26 3 - 60 5-67 Trailers .. .. .. •• 0-68 0-56 1-04 0-95 0-81 0-70 Miscellaneous 0-18 0-25 0-31 0-34 0-22 0-29 All motor-vehicles .. .. ..100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 |100-00 100-00