MOTOR NUMBER PLATES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 23 December 1938, Page 4

MOTOR NUMBER PLATES

PRESS CHANGING FRONT ORANGE AND BLACK The annual licensing of motor.vehicies in New Zealand does not commence until Ist May next, but the Motor Registration Branch of the Post Office is already making preparations for tbia large-scale task. The motor plates have to be manufactured, and this i* done in New Zealand and groups of numbers allocated to each of the eighteen licensing districts into which the Dominion is divided. During the current year the highest numbers are being carried on motor-vehicles registered in Christchurch, but for the next re-licensing period. Wellington dis* trict will top the position numerically. The lowest numbers arc to be allocated to Invercargill, starting trorn 2001 lor private cars, and they will increase in geographical order going north as far as Blenheim. Then the next consecutive numbers are to be allocated to Auckland, starting with cars at 73.501 and increasing to the south until the highest point is reached in Wellington, commencing with 120.501. Car numbers 1 to 2000 will be reserved for private hire and rental cars. Details of the allocations for private cars in the chief postal districts ere as follows: Invercargill 2,001 12.000 Dunedin 12,001 26.000 Oamaru 26.001 28.600 Timaru 28.601 36,000 Christchurch 38,001 63.000 Greymouth 63001 65,700 Westport 68.701 66,600 Nelson 66.601 71.000 Blenheim 71.001 73,500 Auckland 73,501 115.500 Thames 115.501 124.000 Hamilton 124,001 142.500 Gisborne 142.501 148.000 Napier .. 148.001 158,000 New Plymouth .. 158.001 169.500 Wanganui 169.501 177,500 Palmerston North 177.501 190,500 Wellington 190.501 214.500 A similar method of allocation of numbers is to be followed in respect to commercial and other types of motorvehicles, including motor-cycles, and the initial letters will be the same as in previous years. The colour of the new plates will be orange, the figures apearing in black.