A BIG TASK

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4045, 9 May 1938, Page 4

A BIG TASK

ISSUING MOTOR NUMBERPLATES. WORK NOW IN PROGRESS. Post office staffs throughout New Zealand have begun the big task of issuing new number-plates for motoi vehicles -in connection with the annual re-licensing, which must be completed in time to use the green and white plates on Ist June. Te Awamutu officials have been issuing the plates for several days, and expect to be kept very busy throughout the month, with, of course, a terrible rush of applicants for registration in the final few days. Car number-plates from this district will bear numbers from 57801 to 59300, with a supplementary issue if required. Motor cycle numbers will range from 6101 to 6200, and a second batch is numbered 7141 to 7170. Light delivery trucks range from L7lOl to L 7300, and heavy delivery trucks will bear numbers between H 5901 and H6OOO. In all there is provision for issuing, for local and district needs, about 2000 plates. Private cars have increased in number by nearly 10 per cent since the previous re-licensing period, and the gross total of motor vehicles is now approximately 282,000. This year’s licensing form, except for the variation of third-party insurance rates recently announced, is the same as that of the previous year. As the result of long experience it has been possible to simplify the form and cut down the questions to the barest minimum. It is still necessary for the motor owner to include in his application the engine number and the chassis number of the vehicle, although these have been previously mentioned on licensing applications. The reason is that these numbers form the only really permanent identification mark on a motor vehicle. Persons and firms owning four or more vehicles can save time in the licensing process by submitting the application forms in advance. The postal officials will then carry out the checking process, allocate the number plates to each vehicle, and prepare a statement of the fees. When these are paid the plates are handed over, and the process complete.