NEW NUMBER PLATES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 225, 17 May 1932, Page 6

NEW NUMBER PLATES

REGISTRATION AT PRESENT PROCEEDING VERY SLOWLY NEW SYSTEM THIS YEAR Motor registration has been proceeding slowly at the Rotorua post office, and indications are that there will again be a last minute rush before the expiration of the registration period on May 31. After that date, the use of the present plates becomes illegal, and motorists so offending are liable to a fine of £20 for each day that the offence persists. In addition to a revision of the system of numbering, some changes have been made in the scale of premiums covering the third party accident insurance. This year the scale of annual license fees will be as follows: — Motor cycles 10s; private or public ears £2; motor coaches or motor omnibuses, £3; pneumatic tyred trade motors, £2 ; non-pneumatic tyred trade motors, £3; traction engines, £5; trailers with three or more wheels, £3; two-wheeled trailers, £1; any other motor vehicles £2. The premium payable on motor cycles has been raised from 15s per annum to £1. The rate for private cars used for pleasure but not for business purposes will be £1. This figure also applies to cars used by religious or social workers in the course of their work, medical men, farmers using the car in connection with farming operations, and cars used in connection with the work of any public or private hospital or eharitable institution. Other cars falling outside this category, i.e., cars used by travellers, land agents, etc., will pay £2. Public cars "designed to seat not more than seven persons, pay £7; cars seating more than seven, but not more than 10, £7, with an additional £1 10s for every person in excess of 7; more than 10, but not more than 26, £11 10s; more than 26 persons, £19 10s, with an additional 5s for each person in excess of 26.

Numbering System The allotting of registration numbers for the various districts has been altered this year. This time, Wellington is to have the lowest numbers, beginning at No. 1 and going up to to 14,000. Then comes the Palmerston North district, followed by Wanganui, New Plymouth, Napier, Gisborne, Hamilton, Thames, and Auckland. South Island districts will have the highest number, but no number will exceed five figures. For example, when the four-figure numbers are exhausted, a ne"w series will commence, beginning with the letter X, e.g., "XI," "X2," etc., up to "X" followed by five figures. The foregoing arrangement of numbers ref ers to cars only. In addition, there are the following plates: — "Govt" for Government departments' vehicles, "E" for local bodies' vehicles; "D" for dealers7 cars; "B" for omnibuses; "T" for taxis ; "S" for service cars; "L" for light trucks, delivery vans, etc., up to 2 tons, "H" for trucks, delivery vans, etc., over two tons.