"BADLY STUNG."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 194, 18 August 1933, Page 8

"BADLY STUNG."

MOTORISTS' COMPLAINT ISSUE OF NUMBER PLATES. GOVERNMENT'S XARGE PROFITS. Figures showing the large profits made by the Government in the issue of motor vehicle number plates were quoted e t the conference of th 3 North Island i Motor Union this morning. One delegate gave the opinion that motorists | were being badly "stung" in the matter, j

A remit that the Government should be urged to abandon the present system of number plates whereby cars have to be registered every year and new plates issued and to substitute therefor the English system whereby a plate is issued to a car when registered, and remains attached during the life of the car, and a registration sticker or identification is issued annually, at a cost of not more than sixpence for each certificate, was moved by Mr. G. A. Carter (South Taraiiaki). Mr. Carter said that £he present system should be altered" either by a change to the" English system or by a reduction in. the fee charged.

'". ae profits made by the Government in this matter seem .to be exhorbitant," said Mr. E. A. Batt (Wellington). Over a period of eight years from 1925 to 1933, he said, the total cost of'/plates in New Zealand had beeu £88,013, and they had been sold to motorists at £197j097. The ' Government had thus made a profit in. that way alone of an average of £12,000 per annum. In addition the Highways Department had to pay 1/6 per set "of plates,'representing another £11,000 per year, and transfer fees averaged another £6000 per year. The figures were enormous and it appeared that the jnotorists were being "well and truly stung." "The whole thing is just a bean feast for the Post Office as far as I can see it," said Mr. Batt. The speaker added, however, that he did not think that New Zealand should adopt tha English system of number plates.

~ Mr. G. W. Hutchison said that Auckland motorists were concerned at the high cost of the present system. The Government, he thought, should hand the plates to the motorists at cost price. The plates were really a means of collecting the annual licenses. Mr. Batt said -that the Government received a. definite proat of £20,000 per annum.. After further discussion Mr. Carter moved, in- place of his association's original remit, that the union should protest against the charge made by the Post and Telegraph Department for registration plates and should request that.the charge of the plates should be reduced to the cost price. .The motion was: carried unanimously.