NINE THOUSAND NEW CARS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19440, 28 October 1925, Page 6

NINE THOUSAND NEW CARS

IMPORTED IN THREE MONTHS. BULK FOR NORTH ISLAND TENDER FOR NAME PLATES. Motor registration figures to September 30 disclose an addition of 9344 vehicles in three months, making a total of 115,843. The North Island has 46,986 cars, 10,522 trucks, and 13,081 cycles, a total of 70,589. The South Island has 30,091 cars, 4630 trucks, and 10,533 cycles, a total of 45,254. These figures show that the South Island’s proportion of the distribution of the tyre and license revenue is £45 out of £ll5. Inquiries with reference to the new motor number-plate contract show that a Canadian concern quoted a price for next year’s plates which would have enabled the Post Office to supply them at a charge of Is 6d a pair. The local tender accepted involves a price to the public of 2s fid per pair for plates, sixpence more than last year. On the basis of a supply of 150,000 pairs of plates, this means that, whereas the Canadian articles would have cost the public £11,250, the locally-made article will cost it £18,750. The difference of £6500 represents the cost to motorists of supporting local industry. Once local manufacture is established, the difference, of course, may not be so great in future years. The Wellington contractor is importing a special machine for the manufacture of the plates.