H.—4o,

during the last semi-annual inspection period, Ist July, 1938, to 31st December, 1938, as compared with the first period Ist January, 1937, to 30th June, 1937, when these vehicles were first brought under the Transport Licensing Act. __ _ , — — | i ™ — i

(3) Other Vehicles. —A system of compulsory semi-annual inspection of all motor-vehicles other than those under (1) and (2) was introduced into the Dominion during the year 1937, and this inspection is in the main being executed by 1,435 approved motor garages. A.t the onset an understanding was given that at the expiry of two years the city authorities where the population exceeds 20,000, or where the number of registered vehicles exceeds 4,000, that had the necessary facilities to undertake all the inspection work in their areas would be made the sole examining authorities in those areas. . Some of the larger cities have already made, or are making, arrangements to install special equipment which will enable them to deal satisfactorily with the inspection of all vehicles in their The inspection of a motor-vehicle for a Warrant of Fitness involves a check, of brakes, lights, steering, wheel-alignment, windscreen-wiper, rear-vision mirror, warning-device, and door-fastenings. The following gives the number of warrants issued to motor-vehicles and the percentage " correcl in every detail" for each period since the regulation has been in force . I 1-* . a. - .. _ S-i A.

The following table gives the percentages of defects as revealed by the inspections:

From a perusal of these figures it is evident that almost every detail involved in the inspection has shown an improvement during the various six-monthly periods, but the figures also indicate the necessity for the test being conducted periodically. The inspection of motor-cycles for a Warrant of Fitness includes a check of brakes, lights, steering-gear, silencer, foot-rests, and warning-device. The following gives the percentage of defects revealed by the inspection of motor-cycles : — '.|_., , I | | ]

I i 1 I ' ■ It may be stated that the manner in which the motoring public has co-operated with the Government in the policy of regular vehicle inspection indicates that it is fully appreciative of the efforts being made to reduce road accidents to a minimum.

43

—— Brakes. Lights. j , tj 0 „_ Wind- Rear- Warning . D oor . Period. Steering. screen- vision device 6 faatenings . „ , : wiper. Mirror. Foot. ! Hand. Head. Tail. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. 1/1/37 to 30/6/37 1 6 17 | 9 28 30 18 20 7 6 1/7/38 .to 31/12/38 .. 12 11-2 10-2 18 22-8 4 6-7 5-1 1-8 , • i i • P 11 i 1 " 1 „ _i.l

„ r „ r , • , Percentage Correct Period ending No. of Warrants issued. in 6V ery Detail. September, 1937 lls'Jn 45 March, 1938 .. .. ■■ •• ■■ 188,711 4& September, 1938 .. •• •• ■■ 198,482 53 March, 1939 .. .. •• •• 204,892 5o

.——— —■ - - — I i Brakes. Lights. Wind _ Rear _ Wam . Door _ Period. in™" screen " ™ ion , in ?- % 8ten " _ T , _ TT , m .. wiper. Mirror, device. ings. Foot. Hand. Head. lail. I Per Per Per Per Per Per Per Per Per 1937 Cent. Cent. Cent. Cent. Cent. Cent. Cent. Cent. Cent. l st .. 30 28 70 17 16 17 6 4 3 2nd . ■ ■ • 21 19 33 10 10 7 2 3 2 1938. l 8t 21 23 23 9 8 6 1-5 3 1-5 2nd !! .. ..24 23 19 9 9.5 1-5 3 1-5

„ , I Lights. Steering, Foot- WarningPeriod. Brakes. &e. bilencer. rcgts> device. J 937 Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. First ..9 29 20 3 8 3 9 Second !! .... 6 15 13 1 3 2 4 1938. First 5 12 11 2 2-5 2 4 Second 4 9 9 1 2 1-5 4