MOTOR LICENSING

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12396, 16 March 1926, Page 7

MOTOR LICENSING

BLACK-AND-WHITE NUMBERS DELAY IN SUPPLIES OF PLAITS TIME MAY BE EXTENDED (By TelegrapE.—Special to “Times.”) AUCKLAND, March 15. The re-licensing of motor vehicles, which should have commenced this week, has received an unexpected check through the inability of the coutracto" to supply the number plates immediately. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, all owners of petrol-propelled vehicles should have obtained new licenses and number-plates by April Ist. It was intends! to allow one month’s grace, and to take action against owners of cars bearing the obsolete green and white plates after April 30tli. The depot at the Wellesley Street Post Office has been' ready to begin work immediately the plates came to hand. It is considered now that the plates will r.ot be ready for issue before the end of the month. Under these circumstances the registering authorities throughout New Zealand will allow motorists until May 31st to effect re-licensing. The delay is stated to be duo to trouble with the machinery used for the manufacture of the plates, the green and white plates, now expiring, were imported from America, and

were sold to motorists for 2s a pair. This caused a strong agitation for the manufacture of plates in the Dominion, and when it was finally decided that the plates :or 1926 would be black and white, tenders were sought. A Canadian firm offered to supply plates at a price which would have enabled their issue to motorists at Is 6d a pair. A Wellington factory quoted a price that meant charging the motorist 2s 6d a pair. On the basis of a supply of 150,000 pairs of plates the Canadian article would have oost £11,250, as against £18,750 for the accepted New Zealand tender. The difference of £7500 represented th© cost to motorists of supporting local industry.

The Wellington contractor imported a special machine to manufacture tbe plates, and it is apparently from this directi >n that the hold-up has resulted

It is interesting to obserrve that th© motor-number plates issued in many American states are manufactured i? the prisons.