CAR LICENSES.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16736, 12 March 1926, Page 5

CAR LICENSES.

RENEWAL ON APRIL IST.

NEW NUMBER PLATES,

NO LATITUDE ALLOWED,

The issue of new number plates for motor vehicles will be commenced within a few days. The onus is on the motorist to pay the license fee of £2 before April Ist., and attach the new plates. Detection of delinquents will be immediate, as the plates for .the year 1026-27 are black and white, in contrast to the current green and white plates. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, which became operative last year, every private car, commercial motor or motorcycle, must be both registered and licensed. The registration remains in force for the life of the car. It is se-i cured for a fee of £l. The licensing is an annual matter, and all licenses expire on March 31st., irrespective of when they were taken out. For the license, a fee of £2 is paid, together with 2/6 for a pair of number plates. Motorists who acquired cars during the last twelve months have not been required to pay the full license fee. The charge is proportionate to the number of months for which the license will operate before the national velieensingydate on April Ist. Last year motorists enjoyed considerable latitude beforp the regulations were enforced. A week after April Ist. there were scores of cars in use which had not been registered. In many cases, this was due to ignorance. To many private car owners the regulations seemed complicated, and they took the risk of ignoring their responsibilities in the meantime. After some weeks had elapsed, the police took action against drivers of cars which bore the obsolete black and white number plates. This year the position is clear, and undoubtedly the authorities will be less tolerant of any oversight. . There are nearly 125,000 motor vehicles in the Dominion, of which over 82,000 are motor-cars. \ j

The allocation, of the funds of the Main Highways Board between the North and South Islands is based on the distribution of the motor registrations. At present about three-fifths of the money is expended in the North Island.

The contract for the number plates, let to a Wellington firm, provides for the supply of 150,000 pairs of plates at a cost of £18,750. They will cost the motorist 9/6 a pair, as against 2/- last year. This is said to be due to the rejection of overseas tenders. The letters “N.Z.” have been eliminated from the plates. In many quarters, regret has been expressed that letters indicating the postal district have not been substituted. The police, traffic departments and post officials have frequently complained that the tracing of a car is unnecessarily protracted because inquiries have Often to be referred to several, postal districts before a driver can be identified.

Under the new system of manufacturing the plates of pressed metal, it is impossible to obtain a duplicate in event of loss. The regulations stipulate that a new pair of plates shall be issued.