H—4o

Passenger-service Vehicles. —This group embraces all vehicles which carry passengers for hire —namely, omnibuses, trolley-buses, service cars, service coaches, passenger-trucks, school buses, school vehicles, taxis (excluding taxis operating in the four main centres, which are inspected by the Metropolitan Licensing Authorities), and rental cars. Examinations are made each six months by departmental Vehicle Inspectors appointed for this purpose. The examination not only covers matters which may effect the safety of the travelling public, but also their health and comfort. Each vehicle is required to display a certificate of fitness, showing the number of passengers which it is authorized to carry. Goods-service Vehicles. —This group comprises all vehicles which carry goods for hire, and these vehicles are also inspected by departmental officers, each six months, and carry a certificate of fitness which shows the maximum load which may be carried. Other Vehicles.—Vehicles not included in the above groups —i.e., private cars, &c. —are inspected each six months by municipal vehicle-testing stations and approved motor-garages which issue warrants of fitness. The following table gives the number of passenger and goods-service vehicles in operation in the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago districts on the 31st March, 1948:

Vehicle Defects. —The following tables give the percentages of vehicles which were found to be free from defects at the time of examination : (a) Passenger-service Vehicles Type. Percentage. Omnibuses .. .. .. 24 • 4 Trolley buses .. .. .. .. 26 • 6 Service cars .. .. .. ..14*5 Service coaches .. .. .. 23-0 Passenger-trucks .. .. .. 20-0 School buses .. .. .. .. 21*8 School vehicles .. .. .. .. 30 • 5 Taxis .. .. .. .. .. 40-5 Rental cars .. .. .. .. 54*1 Ambulances .. .. .. .. 18-0 (b) Goods-service Vehicles 20-9 per cent.

16

Passenger-service Vehicles. ■ 8 £ 8 Area. . C3 <P 32 © * _ . m • # ct5 O Omni buses Trolle Buses Servie Cars. Servie Coache Passeng trucks Schoc Buses Schoo Vehicle Taxis Kenta Cars Ambu lances ■§*§ 1 H Auckland .. 504 4 116 142 200 229 39 465 374 40 3,991 6,104 Wellington .. 367 105 74 119 124 27 459 363 48 3,349 5,035 Canterbury .. 206 11 92 69 108 70 31 191 195 32 1,629 2,634 Otago 147 59 45 78 85 21 167 122 20 1,330 2,074 Total .. | 1 1,224 15 372 330 505 508 118 1,282 1,054 140 10,299 15,847