H.—4o,

The position in each of the four licensing districts is outlined in the following table : —

7 —H. 40.

49

District. Work done on Rates-fixation. No. 1 Licensing District .. Some considerable time has been necessarily spent in the zoning of areas suitable for rate-fixation. After a careful consideration of all relevant circumstances it was decided that five zones were essential. These are — (1) North Auckland, comprising all that area north of Auckland, excluding the Waitemata County. (2) Auckland, comprising the Waitemata, Eden, Manukau, and Franklin Counties. (3) South Auckland, taking in the Raglan, Kawhia, Waitomo, Otorohanga, Waipa, Waikato, Hauraki Plains, Piako, Matamata, Coromandel, Thames, and Ohinemuri Counties. (4) Bay of Plenty, covering the counties of Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Whakatane, and Opotiki. (5) East Coast, taking in the counties of Matakaoa, Waipu, Uawa, Waikohu, Cook, and Wairoa. The carriers and the users of transport have held several meetings in an attempt to reach agreement on suitable cartage rates but without success, and the matter has been referred to the Licensing Authority for decision. To date fair progress has been made towards the preparation of schedules for the North Auckland and Bay of Plenty areas, and the schedules should be put into force during the coming year. No. 2 Licensing District .. In this district rates have been fixed throughout the district except in the Hawke's Bay area and in a small area around Taihape. In these two areas there are schedules in force, but as yet they have not been ratified by the Licensing Authority. The schedules that have been fixed by the Licensing Authority cover the following areas : — Manawatu, Northern Area : Covering counties of Kairanga, Manawatu, Oroua, Kiwitea, Pohangina, and part of the Rangitikei County. This was put into force on the 1st November, 1938. Small amendments were made to the rates on the 22nd February, 1939. Manawatu, Southern Area : Covering Shannon, Levin, and southern district to Paekakariki, Horowhenua, and part of Hutt County. This also was put into force on the 1st November, 1938. Slight amendments were made to the schedule in February, 1939. Taumarunui Area : This schedule, which came into force on the 15th December, 1938, covers the Taumarunui, Kaitieke, and Ohura Counties. Small amendments to the rates were made in March, 1939. Taranaki Area : This schedule covers the Taranaki Province, and came into force on the 15th February, 1939. Certain rates in this schedule were amended after a further meeting with carriers and users on the 23rd March, 1939. Wanganui Area : On the 24th March the schedule for this area was brought into force to cover the counties of Wanganui, Waitotara, Waimarino, southern part of Patea County, and that part of the Rangitikei County including Marton Junction and Turakina. The Para Para Road is exempt from the schedule. Wairarapa Area : This area takes in the counties of Akitio, Pahiatua, Eketahuna, Mauriceville, Masterton, Castlepoint, Wairarapa South, and Featherston. This schedule comes into force on the 1st April, 1939. No 3 Licensing District . . In this district there is one rates schedule, fixed by the Licensing Authority, in operation. The area covered by the schedule extends from the Waipara River in the north to the Rangitata River in the south. This schedule was brought into force on the 1st December, 1938. Around Marlborough the carriers and users have agreed on a schedule, which is in force under mutual agreement. In southern part of the district below the Rangitata River steps are being taken to include this area with the northern parts of the No. 4 Licensing District for rates-fixation. No attempt has been made either to fix rates or to bring about an agreement between the carriers and the users on the West Coast. Around Nelson a schedule is in operation under an agreement reached between the carriers and their customers. No. 4 Licensing District . . On the 1st January, 1939, the Licensing Authority fixed a schedule of rates to cover the whole of the No. 4 Licensing District.