MOTOR LICENSING

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21100, 30 April 1940, Page 6

MOTOR LICENSING

NEW NUMBER PLATES HAMILTON ARRANGEMENTS CHANGE IN PETROL COUPONS New number plates for all motor vehicles for the 1940-41 year will bear white letters on a Venetian red background. They must be affixed to vehicles on June 1. The date for the commencement of re-licensing in Hamilton is next Monday, and in view of the restricted time available and the large number of vehicles to be re-registered, the public is advised not to delay attendance for registration. Instead of in the Drill Hall, which has generally been used, the re-licensing will be conducted at the Oil Fuel Controller’s office in Knox Street. The numbers that have been allotted to Hamilton for motor-cars are from 153-601 to 172-100. Last year 19.478 motor-cars were registered in Hamilton, while total registrations of all classes of vehicles amounted to 28,577. Increases Las* Year A feature of the re-licensing last year was the big increase in the number of trailers, 1261 being registered. Besides the great increase in the use of caravans for pleasure, the larger number of trainers is accounted for by more farmers securing them to brfng small quantities of stock to the sales, and in some cases, to carry their manure and goods back to the farms. Included in the registrations last year were 2744 light trucks, 2194 heavy lorries, 1379 motor-cycles, 499 Government cars, 360 tractors and local body trucks, 206 school buses, and 137 taxis. Private car owners and motorcyclists will obtain a new supply of petrol coupons only when they pay the necessary licensing fees for the registration of their vehicles, present coupons becoming obsolete after May 31. The number to be used for May are from 27 to 30, inclusive, and coupons should then be destroyed. New Coupons For May There will be a variation in the form and colour of the new coupons. Motor-cycle owners will be supplied with one gallon coupons, which will have a violet background. Twogallon coupons, with a red background, will be issued to owners of pleasure cars under 9.5 horse-power; three-gallon coupons, with a yellow background, to cars from 9.5 to 14.5 horse-power, and four-ballon coupons, with a green background, for cars over 14.5 horse-power. It is not intended to issue coupons of smaller denominations in the class mentioned. The owner of a heavy car will thus be compelled to buy not less than four gallons at a time. His ration for the month is 12 gallons. However, under the present coupon system, a motorist can often purchase one gallon of petrol and, handing in a two-gallon coupon, receive a coupon for a gallon in exchange. This is a mutual arrangement possible only at the convenience of the re-seller. Apparently this unofficial system will be extended this year.