MOTORISTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9540, 4 March 1919, Page 3

MOTORISTS.

ASHBURTON MEETING.

There was a moderate attendance at the A. and P., Association's rooms last evening, when the question of forming a body to further . the interests o'__> motorists was again discussed. Mi- D. Friedlander occupied the chai*. Mr W. Anderspii; spoke strongly in favour of the .f ormation of •, an Association. He briefly outlined the benefits which could be achieved if ai( Associaf tion were formed. To-day was the da^ of co-operation, , and much;, could be done if the motorists got'together hi a strong body, .either ,-'rby; forming a separate Association, or, by • forming a branch, and ■ become, 'allied ..to, tb<s C.A.A.' A revision of' the speed 'limit was; badly .wanted, and., niuch .could, b4 done: by way of improving the snbck| ing state of the roads,' ' chiefly the Main South Road, which was the .worst .main road in New Zealand. The chief trouble/ in : . regard , to the roads was. that -they are vested in too many bodies, and he suggested doing away with the road. boards, and have the roads, vested in, the.. County. Council. If a branch'\:w.erjS'-fpii^i^'k,mmibers could bee? that"the" money 'received by the controlling, body from the local., Assobiauoi- vvus spent 3m the Couu.y.'. if Ashburton -auined to'toe> U.A.A.. .tliey should Know where tliey stood in regard to expenditure. ..siiburion should certainiy have a say iv toe spending of tne money. Me had no dcs he to oppose, toe U.A.A., who , were ; cei'Damiy. doing good work. ' "' '' '. . : ' Mr _<'riedlaiider intinia-tecUthat the C.A.A. were anxious to meet -ishburton motorists,, and" were prepared to' provide adequate expenditure n a body were formeu. I'iiey .were no.".hostile iv-,. any way to any tiling' of beneiit'yt*( motoring in (Canterbury. . ;

Mi- JL). Wood moved: "That a branch; of the Canterbury Automobile Associa'-l tion be formed in As'hburtoh, providing; satisfactory arrangements can. be; made."—This was secondedrbs^-iYLr' \V;_ Page, and carried: '■• '"'',! Mr Anderson suggested that if allied' to the C.A;A., the ioc-ai branch should; liave the handling of four-fift-is.of the; monies subscribed. vWI '"".

Dean O'Donnell said he differed with! many who had confidence ' hi. thus C.A.A., and favoured the formation, of' a local body, thereby having' control of then- own funds. ;'

Mr Fraser championed the C.A.A., who, he said, had done m_iich' in the way of improvement to roads, etc., and were at present endeavouring to get the suggested bridge at Sehvyi. an accomplishd fact.' They were a, powerful body, and would do much to further the interests of motoring.

Several others spoke in support of forming a .branch and becoming allied to the C.AIA. •■•*,

It was finally agreed that those present be formed into a committee, .with power to add to their number, with a view to meeting representatives of the C.A.A. at Ashburton. ;;

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr Anderson made it quite clear that he was in no way antagonistic toward the C.A.A.