WHEELS of INDUSTRY "The wheels of wealth will be slowed
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by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
The Latest Licensing Figures.
The Ministry of Transport has issued a return giving particulars of the number of mechanically propelled road vehicles for which licences were current at any time during the quarter ended September 30th, 1931, and it shows that the figure was 2,213,722, as compared with 2,287,326 in the corresponding period of 1930. This year's total is made up as follows, the comparable figure for the previous year being given in parentheses :—Cars taxed on horsepewer 1,083,457 (1,056,214) ; motor cycles 626,649 (724,319) ; goods vehicles 360,614 (348,441) ; motor hackneys 87,464 (101,131).
It will be seen that the decrease in motor hackneys of 13,667 was almost completely offset by the rise in the number of goods vehicles.
The return also includes details of the number of vehicles of different classes licensed in each area.
Details of Leyland's Trading.
In our issue for last week we gave preliminary details of the trading of Leyland Motors, Ltd., during the year ended September 30th, 1931. and we have now received, a copy of the report, which shows that the net profit in that period amounted to £305,083, as against £366,245 a year earlier, the amount being increased to £364,094 by a net balance of £59,011 brought into the
accounts. After deducting a sum of £51,188 in respect of the dividends on the two classes of preference share, the directors propose to allocate £150,000 to the general reserve, increasing it to £440,000, and to pay a dividend of 10 per cent. (less tax) for the year on the
ordinary shares, which will absorb £67,500. The amount to be carried forward is £95,406.
In the balance sheet trade and other creditors are shown at £232,381, and provision for taxation and contingencies at £198,346, whilst on the other side of the accounts trade and other debtors (less reserve) stand at £499,789. Stock in trade and work.in progress is entered at £973,159, as against £949,477 a year earlier.
Special Railway Rates to Defeat Hauliers.
The four main-line railway companies last week applied to the Railway Rates Tribunal for permission to establish exceptional rates for the transport of general merchandise and coal, the rates being intended to combat road-traffic competition. In numerous cases the applications were granted.
1931 Company Registrations.
The annual statistical report relating to new companies registered in England has just been issued by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., a company of registration agents, 116-118, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.2, in respect of the year ended December 31st, 1921.
A surprising fact is that, in spite of the depressed conditions of trade, a total of 8,385 companies was registered, 8,109 of that number being private concerns having an aggregate capital of £45,493,435, whilst the remainder, comprising public companies, had a total capital of .£12,726,321. Although the total number of companies registered was only slightly less than in the previous year, the total capital involved was nearly 50 per cent. lower.
Under the heading of " motors " we find that four public companies were registered with a total capital of £1,000, and 453 private companies with an aggregate capital of £1,804,059.
Short Distance Hauliers at Carlisle.
A public meeting of hauliers is being convened at Carlisle on Wednesday. February 3rd, at 6.30 p.m., at Exchange Buildings, Lowther Street, under the auspices of the Short Distance Hauliers Alliance. At this meeting a regional or area committee will be formed for the district, and it is hoped that a large number of hauliers from the surrounding country will be present. Two members of the central committee are proceeding to Carlisle to supervise the meeting. It is hoped that another meeting of the same kind will be held shortly at Plymouth, and other parts of the country will be tackled in the same way.