The Latest Taxation Returns.
Page 48
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Tr HE Ministry of Transport returns for the nine months ending August 31st last, dealing with motor-vehicle licences and taxation, have just been issued, and they show that the total number of motor vehicles licensed on that date had risen to 1,690,000, or an increase of 180,000 in the calendar year. These figures do not include tramcar and trade licences.
The number of commercial goods vehicles was 248,367 as against 224,287 In August, 1925 (an increase of 24,080), and 243,542 at the end of May last. The amount paid in taxation in respect of Illese 248,367 vehicles was £4,318,127.
Road locomotives numbered 1,976, showing a reduction of 180 from the 2,156 roistered in August, 1925, and of 255 from the 2,231 registered in May last. Receipts from taxation were £43,376. Motor tractors numbered 1,342, a slight increase on the 1,306 registered in August, 1925, but a reduction of 40 on the 1,382 that were registered" in May last. The tax proceeds in respect of this class were £22,835. The falling off in heavy goods ,haulage, consequent upon reduced production brought about by recent labour troubles, has rendered much transport plant Idle just as it has put other machinery out of action.
Motor hackney vehicles have risen during the summer months to 99,077 as compared with 98,833 c18 a year earlier and 91,918 in May last. The increase in the year was thus only 244, but naturally there haS been considerable displacement of obsolescent and worn vehicles. The proceeds of the taxation of the hackney-vehicle class were £2,141,487.
Exempted vehicles numbered 17,276, and a large number of these represent fire engines, ambulances; etc.
In addition to the vehicles set out in the classeS a number licensed on the basis of horse power, and also a number of motorcycle combinations, would be used for commercial purposes. Most private-hire vehicles and travellers' broughams are registered under paragraph 6 of the Schedule, and it is safe to take another 30,000 and to allocate them to the commercial side.
The total number of commercial vehicles licensed at the end of August last may, therefore, be set down as 385,762, and the amount contributed to the Road Fund in respect of taxation no less than £7,090,525, to which sam must be added about £100,000, the fees paid for driving licences. The private vehicle taxation and licences produced about 19,348,000. The number of motor ploughs licensed totalled 15,057, which shows a falling off from the 15,261 registered a year earlier.