MODERN MOTORING

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 132, 5 June 1923, Page 8

MODERN MOTORING

BY SPARKWELL

TO CORRESPONDENTS. EC (Mt Alberti Increases pending hay» been notified in Australia, but, so far, noi here. Good polity to get in early. R.D.M. (Auckland).—A product of tho same factory. " FLIVVER' - (Cambridge).—The Chevrolet now hus a Tery accessihlf engine. The tank is at th« hauls, and it has ;i Stewart vacuum feeil. Hand brake instead of tnc old ruchet style. Mngneto ami overhead Talve. SPRINGS (Wellington).—The spring gaiter has become an important pan ul' niguclass car equipment. 1 lmve never hearii of an accident caused n springleaf which has broken and has escaped notice through hnving a spring gaiter, r. good gaiter saves an owner much trouble in connection with spring lubrication am: cleaning work, and also adds to the an pearaucc of a car. Gaiters are now popularly used in England, and there, is nu reason why tlu-y should not be more novautageously used in New Zealand. W.l*, write* approving this " newsy" column, and gives several hints which Hithinks " may possibly save the lives aim limbs ot some motorists, passengers, an>! the general public," and of preventing motor car accidents. His tirst point is that motorists should be twice ns careful asthey think they ought to be when driving a car. They should take no chance:-. Secondly, every motor car should have i. strong buffer, both at front and at th<" re.v. to break Impact in the case of collision, The writer frankly says he got the nliuv, points from " The Popular Science Monthly." and thought they were worth recording. ABOUT THE DISTRICTS. As the wet weather has continued in the province the roads are still in bad condition. Roading work has also been held up. Some of the roads about Hamilton could do with attention. This applies with more force to the Kotorua district, where the main route to Taupo is intolerable. It is reported that the mail contractors there, on May 27 reverted from motor to horse-drawn transport. A Hamilton deputation to the Premier pleaded for Government assistance in the maintenance of the HamiltonWhatawhata road. Mr. J. R. Fow mentioned toll-gates, which Mr. Massey said he did not favour. A short spin out to Onehunga, via Mangero to Papatoetoe or Otahuhu, and then back to Auckland is agreeable. The North Shore roads and beaches would be a great attraction to motorists if the Devonport Ferry Company made better provision for the vehicle ferry. The last ferry on Sundays across to town leaves at 5 p.m., an hour altogether too early to suit the convenience of parties who are out for full measures of ozone. An Otago motorist at present in Auckland said that he noticed with surprise that good roads for short motoring trips were prctically confined to a radius of ten miles to Auckland. With the Rangiriris block there was no proper outlet. While at Hamilton he noticed that the people did not use their cars for pleasure the same way as people in Dunedin did. It was quite a common thing for motorists in Otago's capital to take a forty-mile drive for a picnic. On Saturday afternoons they ran to Milton (36 miles) and back m time for dinner the same night. It might be to the Taieri Beach or on the north side to Palmerston or other places which had fairly good roads leading to them. WHAT ABOUT ROADS ? "SparkweU" heard Mr. Massey at the Waikato show. "There is no M&eiilty about money now," he declared. we know exactly how much is available. 1 have a very large sum in the Advances Department waiting, and when that is cone I can easily find another sum just as large." Local bodies, farmers, and motorists will be interested to see whether the stated improved financial position will enable the Government, throuch the Public Works Department, to do something more to improve mam North Island and Auckland district roads. HEADMGHTS-THEUt USE AND ABUSE. Good headlights are essential equipment on the modern car, but the kind that give a dazzling glare are distinctly, a disadvantage and menace to the motorist as well as to the public. This matter is being given prominence in all parts of the world at the present tune. In the Old Country it is probable that legislation will be passed shortly regulatinc specifically the power of headlights, the dazzle of which is considered by authorities to be dangerous to traffic, especially in the cities. The proposed bill will have as title "Lights of Vehicles Bill," one of the objects of which, it is stated, will be to encourage the inventive faculty of manufacturers to devise a type of headlight which will overcome the trouble. Poweriful headlights have been a subject of common comment in New Zealand. It is quite conceivable that on an ordinary toUTing trip in the country when travelling by night over unfamiliar roads good, headlights are invaluable. Unfortunately, however, the rays of light thrown out lift beyond ordinary arc requirements and tend to restrict the visibility of a driver whilst confusing approaching traffic. The reason for the objection to such headlights has been manifested, not only because of the unnecessary glare beyond the range of visibility, but because many motorists either unconsciously or wilfully abuse their use in cities where, with speed regulations, powerful lights can be eschewed. Only a few days ago "Sparkwell" was chatting with a tram official, who said that he was compellpd to relinquish his duties as a motorman because tho headlights of motor cars 'had ao injured his sight. Undoubtedly a need exists for a regulated standard of headlights in Auckland and other parts of this Dominion, and therefore the measures taken in England will be watched with interest by the motor world. In the meantime motorists will be wise to accept this friendly tip and carefully look to their headlights, which should always be dimmed when approaching other vehicles, including tramcars, ft will help traffic control and assure the pedestrian. AN AMERICAN VIEW. Since writing the above American files to hand reveal an interesting policy adopted in order to combat, the headlights problem. The Californian Automobile Trade Association has, in conjunction with the State Motor Vehicle Department, arranged lor headlight adjusting stations throughout the State manned by experts. One trade critic writes:—"The menace of the highways at night is glaring headlights, and

there is no excuse for them. If the headlights on your car glare in the eyes of the oncoming; traveller you are endangering his life, because when he looks at glaring lights for a second ov two, ho can see nothing when he drops his eyes to the dark road again. Then, too, you are not getting the light where you should get it. It is being shot into the air and not along the road, where you need it." In Auckland the City Council could eneoii/nge a greater recognition of the headlights problem by seeing that some oi the main thoroughfares are better lighted, especially at points ;n the busy quarters where it is imperative for motorists to apply the dimmers. There is, for instance, a very dangerous locality near the top of Upper Queen Street, where dimmed lights on the steep down gfirade make the darkness and gloom impenetrable to drivers. A part of Ivhybor Pass is equally dangeroif. The A.A.A. could give the authorities' valuable advice in these matters. RELIABILITY TRIAL. The results of the Royal Automobile Club's reliability trial over the SydneyMoss Vale-Kangaroo Valley-Kiama route, together with the hill climb and petrol consumption tests, have been announced by the secretary (Mr. Morgan) as follows: — Total points. W. .T. Stewart, IS.BO Essex 393.75 1 S. S. Ottoway. 2(1.25 Vauxbnll 3T7.-2 > 11. If. Hnrt. 18.98 Essex 307.09 3 It. Gaut, 0.45 Fiat 357.87 4 lIILL CLIMB. S. C. Ottoway, Vauxhall 100 1 W. J. Stewnrt, Essex 03 75 2 11. M. Hurt. Eese.T 0083 3 D. M. Goldfinch, Hudson 87.40 4 TETROL CONSUMPTION. Gale. W. J. Stewart. Essex 33.58 1 P. M. OoMflnch. Hudson 22.07 2 W. M. Walker, Vnuxhall 24.83 3 S. C. Ottoway, Vauxhall 23.15 4 UNGENEROUS COMMENTS. "Chassis," of the Christchurch "Sun," is not pleased with the unbiassed opinion of Mr. Frank Reid, of Dunedin, who recently informed "Sparkweir' that the South Island could wait to give the North Island a chance to get something like roads. "Chassis" writes: "Mr. Reid has a little water in hie mixture. He ie apparently in favpur of one road board far New Zealand. In suoh an attitude he differs directly from the opinion of the Otago Motor Club, of which he should be a member. He forgets that the motoring organisations and the county councils and local bodies ' generally in the South Island have cared for their roads. That 13 why there is such a contrast between the two islands. If the North Islanders had followed the lead set by Taranaki the l-oaxls wouldn't be the monumental disgrace they are. Is the North Island to have preference while the roade at the South are allowed to disintegrate T Is Mr. Reid prepared to pay ibis tax for the upkeep of neglected North Island roads while the road south of Dunedin, for instance, is allowed to grow worse and worse? Mr. Reid should combine with fellow-motorists in his own home town, and booet a 'one-board allocation according to tax' policy." "Chassis" fails to appreciate that Mr. Reid is broadminded, and, furthermore, has travelled the highways of the North and South Islands. His opinion as a well-known motorist should carry weight.

TOPICAL NOTES. There -were over £10,000 worth of motor-cars and motor-cycles at the Waikato Show. The automobile section created much interest, and the exhibitors, judging by the "sold" tickets, did good business. The usefulness of the motor-lorry as a. common carrier hinges largely upon the wisdom with which our roads are planned, built and maintained. A new Indian Scout motor-cycle disappeared from outsidfc the Winter Show building at Hamilton, much to the disgust of the owner. A Sydney advertisement: "We have three second-hand cars for sale, and would advise buyers to call early, as these cars do not last long." Commercial candour. Wonder do the ears of some of the constables on point duty 'burn? Several motorists have drawn my attention to inconsistency shown in directing them at these crossings. The constable will forget to put up the sign '"Go," and then with a nod or flourish of his arm beckon the driver to proceed. Later the motorist is called upon to explain why he had not obeyed the signal apparatus. Still, if you watch the point-duty policeman you will observe that hie task is no sinecure. At Te Aroha, after midnight, thieves forced the front door of Clarke's garage, and stole a. doctor's new Dodge car. Evidently it isn't safe to lock cars away. If a thief fancies a particular make, then he just must have it. The car is still at large and "dodging" well. Cowe take a deal of shifting. A motorcaT hit a cow which stood on the road near Havelock. ReeuK: Cow died, following rib injuries; car under repairs with smashed lamps, damaged radiator and crumpled mudguards. Cows take cars broadside on; the day of the cow with the crumpled horn is past. To be fined for exceeding the speed limit is what most motorists expect at some time or other, but to be fined for going too slow ie altogether a joke. Yet this was the experience of a lady motorist in an American city recently. The judge commented that in going eight to ten miles an hour the accused was holding up the traffic. She should have been travelling from 10 to 15 miles an hour. A fine wa3 inflictted.