July Registrations a Pointer to the Situation
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Goods-vehicle Figures Show an Improvement, but Hackneys Come Under a Cloud
AS intimated • in our issue for last week, 5,726 goods vehicles and 612 hackney vehicles were registered for the first -time during July last, the comparable returns in respect of 1938 being 5,622 of the former and 894 Of the latter. The aggregate for the month, in respect of all types of motor vehicle. was 40,829 in July last and 34,594 a year earlier.
In view of the state of affairs that prevailed in July, it is not surprising that the number of goods vehicles was somewhat higher. Analysing these returns, we find that there were 5,336 petrol goods vehicles licensed, as against 5,267 in July, 1938. The peak was reached by the 2-2i-twiner, with 1,955 registrations, the same comment applying to the figure for July, 1938, when 1,711 vehicles in this division were recorded.
Petrol Goods-vehicle Totals.
In the other classes up to the 2-ton limit, the following registrations took place, last year's figures being given in parentheses :—Not exceeding 12 cwt., 812 (857) ; 12-cwt.-1-ton, 951 (954): '1-14-ton, 502 (532) ; li-2-ton, 790 (832). Above the 21-ton unladen weight limit 136 vehicles were licensed in July last, contrasted with 159 a year earlier.
An upward tendency was also shown by goods oilers, which advanced in the year from 145 to 176. Outstanding in this section were the 3-4-tonners, with 44 vehicles licensed other categories which made a good showing being 2-2i-tonners (33), 4-5-tonners (32), 6-7-tonners (28).
One may expect that, under wartime conditions, the electric vehicle stands a good chance of making progress, but so far as July last is concerned, the registrations, at 97, were slightly lower than for the comparable month of 1938; 84 of the total were in respect of the two classes covered by the limits of 12 cwt. and 1itons.
The number of goods vehicles licensed for drawing trailers was 22, which varies little from last year's figure.
With the exception of eightwheelers, which advanced from 27 to 35, each of the multi-wheeled-vehicle divisions showed a falling off, that in respect of five-wheelers (mechanicalhorse type) being most pronounced; the drop was from 81 to 49. In the case of rigid six-wheelers, this year's total of 54 has to be set against one of 62 for July, 1938. The articulated type of six-wheeler fell only by one vehicle to 40 registrations.
The total for agricultural vans and lorries, at 105, was 15 above the corresponding return for a year earlier. Under the heading of agricultural engines (5s. class), 860 ploughing machines, etc., were registered, last year's figure being 560. Of the total of 39 tractors licensed, 21 were for general haulage and 18 for agricultural service; last year's total in respect of the two sections was 42. .
All Hackney Sections Lower.
It is not altogether surprising that the hackney-vehicle registrations were appreciably lower and in each of the three divisions into which such vehicles are split, there was a fall, although that in respect of oilers—from 288 to 262—was relatively unimportant. In the case of petrol hackneys, 328 vehicles were licensed, as against 492 in the previous year, by far and away the largest proportion in each period being accounted for by taxicabs. Even worse was the drop in trolley. buses, and only 22 such machines were licensed in July last, compared wit]: 114 in the same month of 1938.
During the seven months ended July 39,507 goods vehicles and 5,65! hackney vehicles were licensed, th4 comparable returns for 1938 beinl 42,129 and 6,159