August Registrations Make Improved Showing
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A Detailed Analysis of the Latest Licensing Figures, Indicating Tendencies in all Major Classes.
IN so far as the registrations of new vehicles were only 2,797 down on the previous year's total, whereas, in the preceding month, the return showed that 10,453 fewer vehicles were registered, as compared with July, 1937, it can be said that the downward tendency of recent months has beeu partially arrested. Nevertheless, the fact remains that, in August last, the goods-vehicle registrations, at 4,458, were 268 below those for the comparable month of 1937, and the loss in this direction was not completely offset by the advance in hackneys, which rose from 307 in August, 1937, to 438 a year later.
Petrol Goods Vehicles Irregular.
Analysing the returns for petrol goods vehicles, we find that the only category. which exceeded the fourfigure mark was that for 2-24-toriners, although, at 1,475, the registrations in this class were 169 down on the corresponding return felt1937. So far as this division is concerned, there was only one class up to the eight covering the limit of five tons unladen weight in which the return exceeded the comparable figure for last year, this being the 12-cwt.-1-tormers, which advanced from 508 to 737 registrations.
• In tiff 'other major categories the following petrol goods-vehicle registrations took place, last year's totals being given in parentlleses:—Not exceeding 12 cwt., 628 (700); 1-14 tons, 393 (479); 14-2 tons, 683 (777); 24-3 tons. 159. (210); 3-4 tons. 105 (119); 4-5
tons, 28 (30). Above this limit, only 12 vehicles were registered, as compared with six in August, 1937.
The goods oiler gained a little ground in August last, with 122 registrations, as against 118 a year earlier, the peak being touched by the 4-5-ton category.
with 31 registrations. Other classf.,s which made a good showing in this section were the 3-4-tonners (28) and the 6-7-tonners (22).
The electric vehicle showed a slight falling off, and the 56 registrations in this class compared with 62 a year earlier.
Once again the five-wheeler (mechanical-horse type) headed the list amongst multi-wheelers, the 68 vehicles licensed in this class being followed by the rigid six-wheeler with 40, the articulated type with 33, and, finally, the eight-wheeler with 20 registrations. No comparable returns are available for five-wheelers, but in the other multiwheeler sections the figures showed little variation on last year's returns.
The number of agricultural vans and lorries registered was 52, all of them in the petrol-propelled category—a remaik which also applies to last year's return, when 63 agricultural vans and lorries were registered.
Under the heading of agricultural engines (5s class), 807 ploughing machines, etc.. were registered, against 816 in August, 1937. The number of tractors registered was 43. 20 of them being for agricultural uses and the others for general haulage; the total is identical with that for last year.
Petrol Hackneys a Bright Spot.
The most notable feature of the hackney-vehicle returns for August last was the advance made by petrol vehicles, the 225 registrations in this section contrasting with 123 in August, 1937. The increase was partly accounted for by a substantial advance in taxicab registrations. In this division the 26-32-seater and the 48-56seater, with 46 and 42 registrations respectively, put up a good showing.
A remark that we made concerning goods oilers applies with equal force to hackney oilers, the 179 vehicles licensed comparing with 175 a year earlier. The 48-56-seater headed the list with 52 registrations, being followed by the 32-40-seater with .66.
All the trolleybuses registered-34— were double-deckers, and .the total shows a useful advance on last year's figure of 9. Out of the total for hackneys, 22 were six-wheelers, whereas, in August, 1937, no multi-wheeled passenger vehicles were registered.
The aggregate figures for the eight months ended August show that 46,537 goods vehicles and 6,597 hackney vehicles were licensed, last year's comparable returns being 52.473 and 6.052.