THE BIGGEST EVER.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 36, 12 February 1924, Page 12

THE BIGGEST EVER.

A CALIFORNIA.? CLUB. Pome time ago. Mrs. Bdith 11. Williams, of San Diego. California, motored through New Zealand. That tour was facilitated by the courtesies extended to her by Mr. .1. S. Hawkes, secretaryorganiser of the Canterbury Automobile Association, says ''Chassis." Mrs. Williams told the Automobile Club of Southern California about her reception in New Zealand, and asked the secretary to forward details of the California Club. This the secretary, Mr. Ernest Mac-G-affey, has done in live pages of closely t\-pewritten letter. He says that the club was founded in 1900 with 100 members, who have now increased to 93.000, making it the largest clulb in the world. The secret of its success has been the loyalty and enthusiasm of its members. The growth of the organisation is an example of what a cohesive and aggressive body of men can accomplish anywhere by giving service to club racmliers and to the general public. The departments of the club include the touring information bureau, signpast bureau, legal department, theft bureau, insurance exchange, forwarding department. safety .bureau, outing bureau, official hotel and garage department, and the tow-car service. All of these departments are conducted solely with a view to saving money, time and trouble to the club's members, and to all persons owning and using motor ears, whether residents of California, or tourists and travellers from any part of the world. The organisation now employs in its departments more than SIX) men and women devoting their entire time to the club's work. There is in constant use by a portion of this force a fleet of To motor vehicles, of which live are sign-post trucks, and two wrecking machines or tow-cars, used in handling cars owned 'by members and disabled in accidents. The touring bureau operates through _!) brunch offices. In 1919. '20, '-21 add '•_'2 no fewer than 3,4.0,30- personal and telephone rails were responded to, and 14.(145,741 maps were distributed. This bureau has n number of cars on the highways all the year to bring road information right up to date. '.' The sign-post department has erected and inalatained 110,000 signs to date. The turn I deportment employs is lawyers- who devote their whole time In 'the "4nb. In Ihe 1 '<•! four

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