(1) Whenever the Commissioner grants a public service vehicle licence he shall, upon payment to him by the licensee of such sum as shall from time to time be fixed by regulations made by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance, issue to such licensee a metal plate (in this Part of this Act referred to as a vehicle plate) of the prescribed pattern and having marked thereon in the prescribed manner the serial number of the said licence and the prescribed words, letters, numbers, and designs.
(2) Whenever the Commissioner is satisfied that a vehicle plate has been lost, destroyed, or broken or has become so defaced by wear or injury that the serial number or all or any of the letters, words, numbers, and designs required by this section to be marked thereon are obliterated or illegible the Commissioner shall, on the application of the owner of the vehicle to which such vehicle plate relates and delivery to the Commissioner of such vehicle plate (if not lost or destr