“Motor” means any vehicle propelled by mechanical power if it is under three tons in weight unladen and is not used for the purpose of drawing more than one vehicle (such vehicle with its locomotive not to exceed in weight four tons unladen). In calculating for the purposes of this Act the weight of a vehicle unladen, the weight of any water, fuel, or accumulators used for the purposes of propulsion shall not be included:

“Motor” means and includes motor-cycles

“Registering authority” means the Council of any town or borough having a population of not less than five thousand, and in all other cases means the County Council.

3 When Act to apply.

This Act shall extend and apply only to districts controlled by registering authorities which have by resolution decided to bring the Act into operation.

4 How Act brought into operation.

Every registering authority which has decided by resolution that this Act shall be brought into force in the district of the said authority shall give public notice of such decision by not less than two advertisements in some newspaper circulating in the district, in each of the four weeks next preceding the date upon which the Act is first to be brought into operation, and by advertisement in the Gazette: Provided that two or more registering authorities may combine such notifications in one advertisement.

5 Motors to be registered.

Every motor shall be registered with a registering authority, and every such registering authority shall assign to each motor a separate number: Provided that in each provincial district a separate number shall be assigned to each motor. Such registration shall have effect throughout the whole colony.

6 Registration-marks.

A mark indicating the registered number of the motor, and the provincial district in which the motor has been registered, in accordance with the First Schedule of this Act, shall be fixed upon the motor, or upon any vehicle drawn by it, or upon both, in such manner as the registering authority may require and in accordance with the Third Schedule of this Act.

7 Form of registration, and fee.

Every registration shall be in the form prescribed by the Second Schedule of this Act; and a fee of ten shillings may be charged by the registering authority upon the registration of any motor having not less than four wheels, and five shillings in the case of a motor having less than four wheels.

8 Where Act in force no unregistered motor to be used.

If a motor is used upon a public road or street without being registered, or if the mark to be fixed in accordance with this Act is not so fixed, or if, being so fixed, it is in any way obscured, or rendered or allowed to become not easily distinguishable, the person driving the car shall be guilty of an offence under this Act, unless, in the case of a prosecution for obscuring a mark or rendering or allowing it to become not easily distinguishable, he proves that he has taken all steps reasonably practicable to prevent the mark being obscured or rendered not easily distinguishable: Provided that—

Exemptions.

(a.)

A person shall not be liable to a penalty under this section if he proves that he has had no reasonable opportunity of registering the motor in accordance with this section, and that the motor is being driven on a road or street for the purpose of being so registered:

(b.)

Any registering authority may assign to any manufacturer of or dealer in motors within the Colony of New Zealand, on payment of an annual fee not exceeding one pound, a general identification-mark which may be used for any motor on trial after completion, or on trial by an intending purchaser; and a person shall not be liable to a penalty under this section while so using the motor if the mark so assigned is fixed upon the motor in the manner required by the said registering authority in accordance with the provisions of this Act:

(c.)

In the case of any motor used for trade purposes, or of any motor plying for hire, it shall not be necessary to affix to such motor the registration-marks aforesaid if, in the opinion of the registering authority, such motor already carries such distinctive marks of ownership as render a registration-mark unnecessary.

9 Nature of registration-marks.

Every registration-mark shall be of the nature prescribed by the Third Schedule of this Act, and may be—

(a.)

Fixed to the motor by means of a plate bearing the said registration-mark and fastened to the motor; or

(b.)

Painted upon the motor in that colour which, in the opinion of the registering authority, offers the most effective contrast to the colour of the motor.

10 Register to be kept.

Every registering authority shall keep a list of all motors registered by it; and such list shall at all times be open for inspection by the police or by the officers of any other registering authority, or by any person proving that he has reasonable grounds for wishing to inspect such list.

11 Altering, &c., marks.

If any person forges, or fraudulently alters or uses, or fraudulently lends or allows to be used by any other person, any mark for identifying a motor under this Act he shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.

12 Change of ownership of motor.

If the ownership of any motor is changed, notice of the change shall be given either by the new or the old owner to the registering authority with which the motor is registered, and an application shall be made either to cancel the registration of the motor or to continue the registration under the new ownership:

Provided that if the new owner elects to continue the registration a fresh registration shall be effected in his name, and he shall pay the usual fee.

13 Penalties.

Any person committing any offence under this Act shall be liable to a penalty of not exceeding ten pounds, and the amount of any such penalty may be recovered in a summary manner under “The Justices of the Peace Act, 1882.”

SCHEDULES

FIRST SCHEDULE Letters Indicating the various Provincial Districts

Province.	Distinguishing Letter.
Auckland	A
Taranaki	T
Hawke’s Bay	H
Wellington	W
Marlborough	M
Nelson	N
Westland	Z
Canterbury	C
Otag	O
Southland	S

SECOND SCHEDULE Form of Particulars to be given by Applicant for Registration of Motor

(a.) To be retained by Registering Authority

1.

Full name of owner:

2.

Residence and postal address of owner:

3.

Description of type of car:

Whether intended for—

(a.)

Private use:

(b.)

Use for trade purposes:

(c.)

Use as a public conveyance:

5.

Particulars as to the position on the car in which it is proposed to place the identification-mark:

6.

Identification-mark assigned to motor:

(Signature of owner, or person applying on his behalf.)

(Date of application.)

(b.) To be handed to Applicant

1.

Name of registering authority:

2.

Name of owner of motor:

3.

Description of type of car:

4.

Whether intended for—

(a.)

Private use:

(b.)

Use for trade purposes:

(c.)

Use as a public conveyance:

5.

Particulars as to the position on the car in which it is proposed to place the identification-mark:

6.

Identification-mark assigned to motor:

(Signature of officer issuing registration.)

THIRD SCHEDULE

A 242

A-242

The alternative diagrams above are specimen designs drawn approximately to a scale of one-sixth. The actual size will, however, differ in the case of plates according to the number of letters and figures required.

In the case of plates, each plate must be rectangular and bear upon it the index-mark of the registering authority, and the separate number assigned to the motor by that authority, the mark and number being arranged in conformity with the arrangement of letters and figures shown on one or other of the above alternative diagrams.

In cases where the letters and figures are painted upon the motor, the foregoing provisions shall, mutatis mutandis, apply.

All letters and figures must be 31/2 in high; every part of every letter and figure must be 5/8 in broad; and the total width of the space taken by every letter or figure, except in the case of the figure 1, must be 21/2 in.

The space between adjoining letters and between adjoining figures must be 1/2 in., and there must be a margin in the case of plates between the nearest part of any letter or figure and the edge of the plate of at least 1/2 in.

In the case of marks for a motor-cycle of a weight unladen not exceeding 3 cwt., each of the dimensions aforementioned may be halved, and the shape of the plates need not be rectangular so long as the minimum margin between any letter or figure and the bottom, top, or sides of the plate is preserved.

Motor Registration Act 1905