MOTOR VEHICLES ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18941, 12 February 1925, Page 11

MOTOR VEHICLES ACT.

SUPPLY OF NUMBER PLATES. LOCAL TENDERS TO BE INVITED. [r.Y TELSGIUrir. —OWN CORRESFOXJ?eST 1 WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Some of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act were discussed by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. It. F. Bollard, to-day. The Minister's attention was drawn to tho criticism mado on the importation of number plates from America, the critics holding that the plates should be made in New Zealand. "The Government was," said Mr. Bollard, " and personally so was I—strongly of opinion that tenders for number plates should be called for within the Dominion. Unfortunately, circumstances rendered it impracticable to have the plates made in the Dominion within the time, and iu any case, it was very doubtful whether they could be so made at anything like the cost quoted abroad. The department was practically forced to go abroad for the plates. The order was given to California, whero it was known that plates were made in millions. A similar plate to that used in California was consequently ordered."

The Minister added that tenders would be called within the Dominion for future supplies of plates, so that local firms could submit tenders.

Many inquiries have been made as to the position of threshing and chaffcutting machines, farm tractors, etc. "It has been held," Mr. Bollard pointed out, "that tractors or traction engines owned by farmers, and used only as between one farm and another, or one part of a farm and another part of the same farm, are not to be deemed motor-vehicles within the moaning of the Act. This decision is, however, subject to the condition that if the machines are used on roads for other purposes, such as the conveyance of goods to or from railway stations, they become subject to the Act and must- be registered and licensed. Vehicles owned by local or public authorities, and used exclusively for general or local pnrposes, are exempt from the payment of the annual license fee. Such vehicles, however, require to be registered and also to be licensed, though, as stated, there is no license fee payable."