No Special Plates For M.P.s’ Cars

Press, Volume C, Issue 29534, 8 June 1961, Page 18

No Special Plates For M.P.s’ Cars

(From Our Oicn Reporter)

WELLINGTON, June 7. The Cabinet has turned down a proposal that members of Parliament should have special, easily-recognised number plates on their private motor-cars, the Minister of Transport (Mr McAlpine) confirmed tonight. The idea had been put forward, he said, as a measure to assist the identification of members of Parliament at official functions. "Sometimes at official functions they are directed into the rank and file and are sent away to obscure parking places.” said the Minister. “If they had special number plates in the 237,000 they could be easily recognised and diverted into the V.I.P. section.”

Mr McAlpine said that the proposal had been rejected by the Cabinet “quite wisely.” “It is understood that one of the reasons which caused the Cabinet to turn down the idea was the danger of Parliamentarians’ cars being used by members of their families in circumstances where no special privileges were warranted. It was also thought that police and traffic officers would tend to condone offences committed by drivers of cars with the special number plates. Chauffeur-driven Ministerial cars carry exclusive

number plates in the 237.000 bracket Although traffic officers will not pursue and issue tickets to Ministerial cars, even if, as frequently happens, speeds on the open road reach 80 or 90 miles an hour, observed offences are reported to the Public Service garage. Drivers are then questioned as to whether theip speeds were really necessary in the public interest. Ministers are also provided with Government “drive-yourself" cars for use on non-official occasions. These are fitted with special number plates recognised by traffic authorities. By Cabinet decision, however, ordinary members of Parliament will not be allowed the privilege of explaining later whether their speeds were really necessary. They will continue to be liable to collect a ticket on the spot.