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Up to 31st May, 206 vessels of all classes were disposed of, the total realization being £513,615. The very few vessels now remaining are under disposal action. An analysis of the classes of vessels sold is as follows : Steamships .. . . .. .. 16 Motor-ships .. .. .. .. .. 9 Minesweepers .. .. .. .. 11 Tugs and tow-boats .. .. .. 24 Powered lighters .. .. .. .. 4 Fairmiles .. .. .. .. 12 Harbour-defence motor-launches .. .. .. 4 Barges and lighters .. .. .. .. 16 Launches and other craft .. .. .. 110 206 15. MOTOR-VEHICLES During the year there has been a substantial falling off in the number of cars and trucks available for disposal, and those that did come forward were mostly of War Department types or not in running order. The indications are that only a very small number of cars and trucks will be declared surplus in the future. The established procedure of giving priority firstly to Government Departments, secondly to ex-servicemen, and then to operators has been adhered to except that, because of the condition and type of the vehicles, many sales were effected by public tender after the requirements of Government Departments had been satisfied. Proposals that in future the disposal of all motor-vehicles, other than cars, should be by tender only are now under consideration. Such method will free the Rehabilitation Department and the Transport Licensing Authorities from a great deal of work which although fully justified in the past is no longer necessary. During the year 1,119 Bren-gun carriers were declared surplus by Army Department. Special provision was made to set aside a proportion for ex-servicemen at a fixed price per carrier and the balance were then offered for sale by tender. Up to the 31st May 977 carriers had been disposed of. The following schedules give details of disposals up to 31st May, 1948 :

Disposals by Classes

Distribution of Sales To Government Departments .. .. .. 3,116 To ex-servicemen .. .. .. .. 5,046 To public .. .. .. .. .. 13,609 21,771 Proceeds of Bales Sales — £ To 31st May, 1947 .. .. .. 4,719,010 Year ended 31st May, 1948 .. ~ 231,690 £4,950,700

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— Trucks. Cars. Wrecks. i Motorcycles. Carriers. Total. Sales — To 31st May, 194-7 Year ended 31st May, 1948 Total sales 12,109 259 1,512 73 2,609 119 3,747 366 *977 19,977 1,794 12,368 1,585 2,728 4.113 977 21,771