H—4o

D. ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC LAWS 50. At 31st March, 1947, the strength of the uniformed traffic staff of the Transport Department was as follows :

The additional officers appointed during the year have been stationed at the following centres : Devonport, Tauranga, Stratford, Palmerston North, Waipukurau, Paekakariki, Blenheim, Kaikoura, Greymouth, Riccarton, Balclutha. 51. The Department's traffic staff exercises control over the traffic on all rural roads, and at 31st March, 1947, has been entrusted with the control of their traffic by some 106 urban authorities. During the year the following boroughs and town districts entered into agreement with the Department: Kaitaia, Mount Maunganui, Te Puke, Taradale, Waipukurau, Runanga, Grreymouth, Kumara, Balclutha. 52. The year saw a considerable increase in traffic volumes. With a universal five-day week, highway traffic has been extremely heavy at week-ends, due to sporting functions and the like, together with the normal pleasure travel of Saturdays and Sundays. As well as the control of traffic in connection with various fixtures, the duties of Inspectors have included the testing of an increasing number of applicants for driving licences, checking of speeds and driving practices on the highway, control at the scene of accidents, checking cyclists at night, foot patrol in the towns and supervision of parking, checking motor-vehicles for faulty headlights and other mechanical defects, enforcement of transport licensing legislation and the regulations governing the use of the roads by heavy traffic, and assisting in the control over wandering stock. 53. During the year some fifty of the Inspectors attended a week's course of instruction at Wellington. This course covered tuition in various aspects of a Traffic Inspector's duties which the officer would not gain in the field. The courses proved beneficial in raising the Inspectors' general standard of knowledge of their job. E. TRAFFIC OFFENCES 54. Traffic Inspectors of the Department reported 10,123 breaches of the traffic laws during the year ended 31st March, 1947. Nearly half of these offenders (4,667) were cautioned, but proceedings were taken in 5,456 instances. Convictions were entered in 5,303 cases, 73 charges were withdrawn, and the remaining 80 cases were dismissed. Many minor breaches are dealt with by the Traffic Inspector on the spot and are not reported by him.

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District. Chief Traffic Inspectors. Assistant Chief Traffic Inspectors. Senior Traffic Inspectors. Traffic Inspectors. Total. Head Office Auckland Wellington Christchurch Dunedin Totals, 1947 Totals, 1946 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 25 25 15 14 2 29 29 17 16 5 5 4 79 93 5 5 3 69 82