CYCLE ROAD LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 195, 17 August 1900, Page 6

CYCLE ROAD LEAGUE.

A meeting of the newly-formed Cycle Eoad League was held last evening in the V.M.C.A. Hall, Mr S. ThomeGeorge presided, and there was a fanattendance. The rules of the League, as drafted by a sub-committee, were read and approved, the annual subscription to the League being fixed at 5/, with an entrance fee of 1/. Mr Pond read the report of the roads sub-com-mittee, which stated that arrangements had been made, through the courtesy of the Remuera Highway Board, for improving a portion of the Eemuera Eoad for a distance of three miles, by laying down scoria and rolling it. Mr Pond said they had been agreeably surprised at the cordialj manner in which they had been received by the gentlemen to whom they had spoken. The Remuera Board had placed at their disposal the amount of scoria they required for the experiment. Tliey (the committee) intended to do their utmost to improve the roads in a way which should commend itself to evefyone. The Remuera Road, experiment would give a very investing object-lesson in road-makl] and if successful the surface would • hard enough to bear other vehicular traffic, as well as cycles. He thought there would be very little difficulty in getting not merely three but a great many miles of road prepared for cyclists in the coming, summer. The funds for the Remuera experiment had been supplied by the sub-commit-tee and a few friends. He hoped every one of the 4000 cyclists of Auckland would support the League. ' If they did, there should be no difficulty in getting good roads for twenty miles round Auckland. (Applause,) The idea was to obtain a roller and place it at the disposal of the Road Boards to carry out the making of the roads according to the latest methods. He moved the adoption of the. report. In reply to Mr Parr 'Mr Pond said the three miles of road now being prepared would cost from £15 to £20, of which more than half had already been subscribed. _

Mr Haines, in seconding the motion, said the sub-committee were preparing a pamphlet dealing with the latest and best methods of road-making. This suggestion had been received by Road Boards in a very appreciative spirit.

The report was adopte^d. On the motion of Mr Shackelford a vote of thanks was accorded to the Remuera Road Board for the manner in which they had co-operated with the sub-committee .

Mr P. A. Vaile then moved: "That this meeting approve of the principle of taxing cycles and cyclists in order to raise funds for the purpose of making and maintaining cycle paths or improved roads in accordance with the principles embodied in the proposed District Cycle Boards Bill. The mover said the Bill had received the approval of some of the leading legal 'men in the city.

Mr Bockaert seconded.

Mr Haines opposed the motion, contending that the Bill as drafted by Mr Vaile was unworkable. Moreover, they were taxed enough already with customs dues, cycle registration fee, municipal rates, and the Cycle League subscription, and he did not see the necessity for a fifth tax. Mr Parr also opposed the Sill, stating that it would not help them one bit. It put the -taxation screw on, drew 5/ from each of them, and left them just where they were already. There was no. provision in the Bill to compel local bodies to give cyclists a portion of the roadway for their special use, or to frame bye-laws to prevent other vehicles using that portion. The Bill semed to him quite unworkable. He thought they should send it bitck to committee.

The secretary (Mr A. A. Davies) read the following legal opinion on the Bill, given by Mr Theo. Cooper: "I have not approved of the Bill. I think that in its .present form it is useless to ex,pect the Legislature to pass it. I mention this, as an impression is abroad that I approve of the Bill." Mr P. Earl wrote: "I beg to inform you that, as a member of the legal committee, I have perused the Bill, and to say that in nj,y opinion there is no possibility of a Bill oh the lines of Mr Vaile's obtaining the sanction of Parliament. I consider it far better to proceed as Messrs Pond and Haines have done, and not try to obtain legislation at present."

After further discussion it was rer solved, on the motion of Mr T. Peacock, to refer the Bill back to the committee.

Mr Peacock moved, and it was carried: ."That, a special meeting- be called for the purpose of making* such alterations in the list of officers as is necessitated by -the rules now adopted.' '

A vote of thanks to the chair ct>n« eluded the business.