MOTOR TRAFFIC

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 112, 24 April 1936, Page 4

MOTOR TRAFFIC

Licences and Other Hastings Statistics LARGE INCREASE SHOWN Large increases in business transacted by the traffic inspector’s department of the Hastings Borough Council are shown in the annual report of the inspector, Mr. A. C. Crawford, who states that the number of licenses issued for car-drivers and for heavy traffic vehicles, and the fees collected, have risen considerably during the period since his appointment in 1932. During the year ended on March 31, says the report, 2957 drivers’ licenses were issued as against 2G96 in the previous year, an increase of 261. Fees amounted to £739 as against £674. an increase of £65.

Heavy traffic licenses increased from 457 to 473, and fees from £3167 to £3418, an increase of £251. In 1932, when Mr. Crawford became inspector, drivers’ licenses were fewer by 595, and the fees from heavy traffic vehicles were less by £1232. Other licenses issued were 37 carriers’, 18 taxi, 20 hawkers’ licenses., and three itinerant traders.’

Prosecutions instigated by the inspector independently of the Police Department included 37 charges of cycling without lights and 80 charges of driving cars without a license. The total number of prosecutions was 152. Mr. Crawford reports that during the check-up on certificates for brakes and lights approximately 700 drivers were caught without certificates, but tho reason was principally that garages were too busy to cope with the work that the check-up, fortunately for them, thrust upon them. During that time 3900 stickers were issued.

The report concludes by giving the following numbers of vehicles registered at the Hastings Post Office, the totals representing almost solely vehicles owned by residents of the borough : —Motor-cars 2682; light delivery vans 548; heavy traffic lorries 342; motor-cycles 287; other vehicles 178. Total: 4037. The number in the previous year was 3870, and the increase was 167.