NEW NUMBER PLATES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2899, 20 June 1925, Page 3

NEW NUMBER PLATES

MANY OBJECTIONS TO NEW SYSTEM. Wellington, June 19. Representatives of the new motor interests and local bodies throughout the Dominion waited on the Hon. W. Bollard to-day regarding the present registration system. Air. Bollard submitted four main questions for their consideration:— (1) Are annual number plates to be continued? (2) Arc the plates to have local letters ? (3) What is the most suitable colour to make them easily identified ? (4) It is faesible that a plate can lie permanent and have some addition as to the year, to indicate that the requirements of the Act had been fulfilled? Air. H. L. Tapley, Mayor of Dunedin, said the interests lie represented disapproved of the colour and lettering of the present plates. They maintained that the colour should be black, with white figuring. They were of opinion that a permanent plate was better and that motorists should not be put to the yearly expense of buying new plates.. “The cost of renewals would lie about £IO,OOO yearly, which was an economic loss. Having a permanent number plate obviated the necessity for having a license displayed on the windscreen. The plate should be made locally and not imported. Air. G. Alacmtmara, first assistant secretary t" the Post and Telegraph Department, strongly defended the present system of registration, which was giving satisfaction and operating economically. He did not favour a green plate, but this was forced on the department, as no other colour was available at Iho time. He denied obtaining a plate from America without regard to local industry. He absolutely opposed a permanent plate. The annual system was the only practicable one and an excellent one for tracing cars. Mr. Afacnainara intimated that he had evolved a scheme which lie proposed to ask the Minister to put into effect, whereby the showing of paper licenses could be avoided. He hoped next year that all motorists would have to do would be to fill in a form showing name, address and present number, and would rei eive immediately, on the payment of a fee, a new number plate. He would leave it to Air. Bollard to say whether the present system was to be scrapped. There were seventeen million ears in America and sttrclv the same scheme as applied there would work in a little country like New Zealand. Air. Bollard said the matter would be very closely considered by the Department, which was out to do its host for all concerned.