THE COURTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18518, 15 March 1930, Page 20 (Supplement)

THE COURTS

DEALER’S NUMBER PLATES. Bv Teletrraph—Press Association MASTERTON. March 14. An interesting point in motor law was raised in the Magistrate's Court to-day, as to the extent to which garage proprietors are entitled in the course of business to lend cars bearing a dealer’s nuniber-plates to customers. D. G. Johnston, of Carterton, garage proprietor, was charged with permitting one of his cars bearing garage number plates to be used by a customer; and B. M. Hurley, of Carterton, was charged with using the car. Counsel for defendants said the defence was on a point of law. as the facts were admitted. Hurley had taken his car to Johnston’s garage for repairs, and had accepted the loan of a garage car in order to visit a district in which he had urgent business. The practice of lending out garage cars in such circumstances, counsel held, wrs common in Wairarapa and elsewhere in New Zealand. He contended that the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1927, allowed a dealer to use the number plates issued to him in the course of the business of the garage. The Magistrate. Mr J. Miller, reserved his decision.