MOTOR VEHICLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1921, Page 7

MOTOR VEHICLES.

ANNUAL REGISTRATION. NEW REGULATION SUGGESTED. A proposed amendment to the Motor Regulation Act with the object of making the registration of motor vehicles compulsory, renewable annually, was discussed at a meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council on Monday night. The matter was referred to in a copy received by the council of the minutes of proceedings at a conference of local bodies’ representatives held at Christchurch to discuss amendments to the Motor Regulation Act. The suggestion which was discussed by the conference (but not carried) was:— That all registrations of motor vehicles be renewed annually during the month cf January. The registering authority shall supply with each registration or renewal a sign plate which shall be attached prominenty on the rear of each motor to indicate that such registration has been effected, or renewed during the current year. The fee for renewal of registration shall be one half of the amount charged for the original registration (that in order to cover the cost of the sig%i plate the annual registration fee for motor cars, etc., be increased from l(te to £1 and motor cycles from 5s to 10s). Or. W. F. Short opposed the proposal and remarked that it seemed as if the motor people were being regarded an fair game in order to get some money.

The general manager (Mr. F. T. Bell ringer) explairied that the idea was to keep track of the registration and have them brought up-to-date. One council which made an investigation of registrations found that about fifty per cent, were defective, and this was caused through cars being scrapped, change of ownership, removals, and other causes. An annual re-registration would keep the rolls up-to-date. After discussion the council adopted merely the first portion of the proposal, in favor of renewing the registrations each year, the reference to fees and ■number plates being deleted. The following proposed amendments to the Motor Act were supported by the council: That all motors be registered in the district in which the owner resides; that the Government take into consideration the question of limiting the size of and weight to be carried by commercial vehicles. On the recommendation ■of the borough inspector, it was also decided that the following amendment be suggested: That in approaching corners all drivers shall give warning to vehicles approaching from the right-hand side.