MOTOR-NUMBER PLATES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12363, 5 February 1926, Page 7

MOTOR-NUMBER PLATES

TO BE MANUFACTURED LOCALLY EXTENDING DOMINION INDUSTRIES “SPECIAL PREFERENCE” The debated question of the manufacture of number-plates for motorcars came up for discussion at the last meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, as the result of a remit from Auckland to the following effect:— “That the Dominion Executive’s notice be called to the report that a New Zealand tender for the supply of motor number plates for the coming year amounting to £IB,OOO had been accepted in preference to an overseas tender at £II,OOO, and ask that tho matter he investigated.” The secretary (Colonel J. Pow) stated that he had written to the Minister for Internal Affairs (The Hon. R. F. Bollard) for information on the point and had received the following reply:— “I have duly your communication, .and in reply; I have to inform you that it is not the custom of Government to disclose the amounts of tenders for material. I may state however, that the tender accented for the supply of moter-plates did not amount to £IB,OOO. or even to the lower amount quoted by you, viz., £II,OOO. It is the desire of Government that New Zealand’s secondary industries should be given every assistance possible; and it was with this idea in view, that special preference was given to a local manufacturer who undertook to supply plates equal in quality to any samples submitted by firms manufacturing outside the Dominion. The additional amount which will be paid for the locnllv-made article will be compensated for by the fact that as new industry has been started and the machinery installed for the purpose will be used later to carrv out work related in type which cannot at present be done In New Zealand. I am sure your executive will agree with the policy jof preference to New Zealand manufactures and products.” The reply was received with satisfaction by tbe executive, and it was decided to forward same to Auckland.