ON TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 136, 11 June 1929, Page 18

ON TOUR.

AAA. MANAGER.

TOUR or NORTH ISLAND

REPORT OF SUCCESSFUL TRIP,

One of the most successful trips ever undertaken by the touring manager of the Auckland Automobile Association, Mr. R. E. Champtaloup, concluded during the week-end. In an interview with the "Star," he made interesting observations. "The tour covered 2000 miles, and embraced most of the main roads south of the Auckland province," said Mr Champtaloup. He is enthusiastic on the operations of the Main Highways Board in the southern, districts, and says the majority, of the, County Councils are cooperating . whole-heartedly. It is estimated that.,within the next twelve months there, .will .be. a. continuous tarsealed service from .the Mokau River to New Plymouth,.and then south through Hawera, . Wanganui, to Wellington.

"On'the eastern side, work is well in hand, and it is hoped that the same conditions will apply from Wellington to Masterton, and to Napier," said Mr. Champtaloup. "Good wide roads are being formed, where visibility is one of tho main considerations. Unfortunately, the same progress cannot be reported in tho Auckland province, where, in several instances local bodies arc hanging back in the hope of securing a larger subsidy. It seems likely that the ratepayers may suffer because of this action, as now the accumulated sums of the Highways Board are exhausted, and it may be necessary in the future for the board to rcduce its subsidy.

"In tho Rotorua and Taupo districts very great improvements have been carried out, but it is quite apparent that the soft pumice roads cannot be expected to carry winter traffic succcssfullv unless there is very strict compliance with the restrictions laid down for. heavy traffic." Heavy Traffic. During his southern tour, the AA.A. touring manager interviewed the executives of southern automobile associations, placing before them the views of tho Auckland Association with regard to tho abolition of heavy traffic fees. In all cases the views expressed were heartily endorsed, as it was felt in all districts that the heavily-laden lorries travelling at speed, were doing much more damage to the road than they were contributing on taxation. As a result of this agitation, a meeting of the combined associations met the Master Carriers' Association last Wednesday in Wellington, but as no finality could be reached, the automobile associations have now decided to organise to protect tho interests of the motor car owners. Mr. Champtaloup was accompanied south by the service officer of the Wanganui' A.A.A. "I was thus able to confer with him and arrange for the continuity of sign-posting throughout the two districts," said the touring manager. "I also inspected a good deal of the back country between Palmerston North and south of National Park, the details of which will be embodied in the new season's literature. From Palmerston North I cut across to Foxton and inspected the reconstruction work on the Foxton-Bulls highway." j Homeward Bound.

On the homeward trip Mr. Champtaloup took the Marton-Napier-Taupo route. He was very favourably impressed with the courtesy of service car drivers 011 the Taupo-Napicr road. He travelled through the Urewera country, then back to Taupo and through the National Park. There he conferred with representatives of the Chateau, Tongariro, to make arrangements for motorists during the summer. He found that every provision was being made for the motorist, ranging practically from 5/ to £5 a day. The return home was ]11 ado through Taupo, Matamata and Hamilton. Cambridge-Hamilton Road. "The tar-sealing between Cambridge and Hamilton .so far seems to justify the experiment," said Mr. Champtaloup. "Between Hamilton and Ngavuwahia an endeavour certainly seems to be made to minimise the usual extremely dangerous condition of the road, and I noticed that a very line red gravel was being used on one part of the maintenance. Even so, the road was in a very unsatisfactory condition for the main arterial route between Auckland and Wellington." On the tour Mr. H. Butcher, chairman of the service committee of the A.A.A., accompanied the touring manager to To Kuiti and Taumarunui, where he addressed meetings of local committees of the A.A.A. Representations with regard to roads were received by Mr. Butcher, who in turn will refer the matters to the various authorities concerned. Mr. Butcher then .returned to Auckland by train. .