MOTOR VEHICLES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1924, Page 4

MOTOR VEHICLES

BEG IST RATION QUESTION. REGULATIONS ISSUED. WELLINGTON, December 12. Since the passing of the Motor Vehicles Act lust session of Parliament motor-owners have been awaiting with interest the issue of regulations under the Act, the all-important part of the new legisltion with which they are especially concerned. The first hatch of the regulations, providing for the licensing and registration of motoi vehicles, was passed at a meeting of the Executive Council yesterday, and they come into operation on January Ist next. The regulations, which give facsimiles of the forms to he used :n ihe annual licensing and registration of tile vehicles, arc to be administered by the Post and Telegraph Department, which is making all neeesasry arrangements to bring the regulations into force. The regulations do not deal comprehensively with all the matters set cut in the Act. They are issued mainly to lint into operation the first phase of the provisions of the Act. < LICENSING AND REGISTRATION SUMMARISED.

The principal clauses of the regulations arc as follows: Every application for the registration of a motor vehicle shall he in the form set out in the schedule of tl,o regulations. Every certificate of registration issued pursuant to Section (i of rhe Act shall lie in the form prescribed m the schedule. The distinguishing marks to bo kept affixed to any registered motor vehicle as required by Section t! of the Ait shall lie exhibited oil two plates (in the regulations referred to as registration plates), which shall (save as provided with respect to mu tor-eye Ds) he fixed one on the trout and till otbo: in: the hack of the motor vehicle in an upright position, so that every letter and figure on the plate is upright and easily distinguishable. In the ease of a motor-cycle the registration plate fixed on ihe front of the cycle may, if it has duplicate moos, lie fixed so that from whichever side ol the motor-cycle it is viewed ihe letters and figures on one or other face of the plate shall he easily distinguishable, though they may not be listinguisliable from the front of the 'iiotorrvcle.

Application for a license to use a motor vehicle shall he in the form laid dijwn in the schedule. (bi completion of the registration and licensing of a motor vehicle, the deputy-registrar shall supply to the owner of the motor vehicle the appropriate registration plates. A charge sufficient to cover the cost of such plates may lie made. Notice of the destruction of any motor vehicle or of its permanent removal from New Zealand or of the fact that any motor vehicle has hecon.J permanently useless, as required by Section lo of the Act. must he given to deputy-registrar in whose office the motor vehicle is registered. • Notice of the change of garage of any motor vehicle required by Section Hi of the Act must he given to the deputy-registrar to whose office the motor vehicle is registered. Notice of the change of ownership of any motor vehicle required hy Subsection 1 1) of Section 17 of the Act has to he given to the deputy-registrar at whose office the motor vehicle is registered.

The application of any miiiiiifactiirer or dealer in motor vehicles for the issue of registration plates with a distinguishing mark is to lie made as required by Sub-section (I) of Section 18 cf the Act, and there shall be kept by the registrar a register of ail persons being dealers in nr manufacturers of iiu-lnr vehicles 1" n bum registration phi Ics are issued i,< terms of Seilnni 1.8 of Ibe A' f.

II any registraliou plate or certificate of registration or license issued in respect of a motor vehicle is lost or mutilated or becomes illegible, it shall Tie the duty of the owner of the motor vehicle forthwith to make application to the appropriate deputy-regis-trar for a substitute for such registration plate, or a duplicate of such certificate of registration or license. On receipt of such application, and on being satisfied as to the facts,

the deputy-registrar shall, on payment of the fees prescribed, issue a substitute for such registration plate or a duplicate of certificate or license, as the case may require. Tq respect of the issue ol such substitutes or duplicates the following lees shall be payable:—ta) For every duplicate corlilicate of registration. 2s (Id ; (b) for every duplicate license to use a motor vehicle, 2s (Id ; (c) for every substitute registration plate a fee sufficient to cover the cost of issue.

Every person who fails to comply with any of the requirements of the regulations shall he liable on conviction ! of "a fine of C 20.” 1 •• I.OXfl-I.OOK KD-FOIt CONTROL” Commenting on the regulations, the Minisfer of Internal Affairs (the Hon. li. F. Pollard) said that in view of the importance of the reuglations to the motor fraternity, he had hoped to have the provisions issued at the beginning of the present month, and he regretted that that had been impossible. There

(vas always a deal of work involved in bringing into operation any new system. and lhe laying out of a method of registration of motors that would i lie as si made as it was complete had required much careful consideration. *• The regulations give a start," said Mr Pollard, "to the long-waited-for control of motor vehicles in. the Dominion. Pel ore recommending the Ad-ministrator-in-Couneil to give his signature to the regulations, they had, in

addition to the scrutiny given to them by the Hon. J. fl. Coates and himself, been perused hv the Eexculive Council of the New Zealand Motor Union, which had approved of their provisions I propose sending copies of the regulations and of the Act to local bodies, motor unions, and others interested,

and any enquiries connected with the licensing and registration of vehicles should be made to the Post and Telegraph Department. T look for success in the administration of the regulations. and feel that they will give satisfaction to all parties.” As to the appointment of the officers

provided for under the Act. Mr Pollard said that a registrar of motor vehicles and also deputy-registrars would be made at an early date. It is proposed that the duties of those offices shall he carried out by officers of the Post and Telegraph Department. Further regulations dealing with many other matters set out in the Act would be proceeded with, and rery shortly those dealing with the licensing of drivers would he issued.