MOTOR REGISTRATION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 105, 30 October 1925, Page 4

MOTOR REGISTRATION

A MATTER OF SALESMANSHIP.

A question of interest to motor salesmen was decided at the Magistrate's Court to-day, in a judgment delivered by Mr. C. K. Orr Walker, S.M., in a caso in which Henry Esau Avery, manager of the Ford Sales and eSrvice, was charged with being tho owner of three motor-cars which were used with demonstration number plates attached.

The police, alleged that the cars, which were driven by the defendant's salesmen, bore only demonstration number plates, and had not been used for demonstration purposes.

The defence contended that the cars had been used only for the 'purpose of sale, and that the provisions of section 18 of the Motor Vehicle 1.; Act had been complied with.

The facts showed that in one of the cases, which was, taken as a test, defendant's salesman actually used the ear for his own purposes in driving •out to a football match on a Saturday afternoon. He had to show the car to a possible purchaser in the even ing, and as the ordinary garage was closed in the afternoon, he drove the car to the football match whilst, waiting for the appointment.

"I don't think the use of the cor on the isolated occasion mentioned would prove that the car was held for other than sale purposes," raiil his Worship. "If it were shown that a car held for sale was used by salesmen generally for driving to and fro on their own or their firm's account, and not directly in connection with the sale of the car, the defend 1 of section IS could not be successfully pleaded.

"Each case must be dealt with on its merits, and as section 18 can be so easily abused by traders, the Court must look with care into the circumstances of each case to see that the provisions of the Act as to paying full license fee are not evaded."

His Worship held that the defendant had proved that the car was retained for purposes of sale, and dismissed the information. The other two charges were withdrawn.