SUMMER'S NEARLY HERE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 16

SUMMER'S NEARLY HERE.

GET THE CAR READY. MOKE CARE ON THE ROAD. (By AUTOSCRIBE.) (All Eights Reserved.) With the advent of October and the "better -weather conditions it usually heralds, motoring takes on a new zest, and the motorist gets his car into trim for the many delightful excursions he -will make during-the summer months. The niotor trade registers a definite upward trend, and car sales go ahead, by leaps and bounds. The last few months have been notable for the very determined efforts made to reduce used car stocks, and there have been some genuine "snips" for buyers of these cars. Where people have been prepared to spend from £100 to £150 on a car, and no more, they have, in many instances, been able

to secure cars with, many thousands of unused miles in them, often on terms that guarantee them against the risk of breakdown for periods of from one to three months. "Guaranteed used cars" is becoming a common slogan in the motor trade, and as it is one that is being honoured by all the better firms, it is bringing motoring within reach of many who could not afford to buy a brand new car. Dozens of cars are available at from £5 to £50, but, of course, these are good buying only to those with a sound mechanical knowledge. Whatever your car, now is the time to overhaul it and get it into thoroughly good trim for the summer. A few hours spent on running over engine, chassis and tyres may save pounds of expensive repairs and annoying delays when on tour later. Careful Driving. Every Monday morning the newspapers contain items about car accidents during the week-end, and although a small proportion of these might be pure and unavoidable accidents, it is certain that the great majority are caused either through, excessive speed or through careless driving. On the safest and widest bitumen roads, far away from any dangerous corners, two cars will come into violent collision, simply because one man has pulled out to the wrong side and can't get back into line again. Moderation is desirable in all things, and equally a* much in motor-' ing as in anything else. Sometimes it happens that the very slow driver is just as great a cause of danger as the overfast one, especially where he dawdles on a much-used narrow road. In America on much-used highways there is a minimum speed limit, which compels motorists to keep moving at 30 or 35 miles an hour. It is annoying to have to travel at that speed when one wants to enjoy the scenery, but it is a menace to safety when a motorist travels at from 10 to 15 miles an liour on a highway that carries a great deal of traffic, unless it is so wide that he can pull well over to the left and leave ample room for others to pass. It is a noticeable thing that more accidents occur on our good, wide roads, where high speeds are possible, than on difficult and dangerous roads. This simply shows that motorists can be careful when the need for it is impressive; there is need for similar care on the good roads. The "Hiring" Business. There's no need to tell the confirmed motorist that holidays by car offer greater freedom than those where reliance has to be placed on ordinary transport by rail or service car. This naturally enough has led to a demand for cars for short periods, by people who want to holiday but who feel they cannot afford to own a car. A brief outline of the hiring system is prompted by a query received from a reader who wanted to know something about the terms under which cars were hired out. Actually the hiring business is almost in its infancy in New Zealand. By that I do not mean that tliere are no firms well equipped to give hiring service, but rather that the public has as yet not' been educated to its value. In England there are dozens of hiring services available, and one can hire anything from a "baby" car up to an expensive saloon, complete with chauffeur. People who go Home on leave can hire a car for the duration of their visit, knowing exactly what it will cost them per mile or per week, while there are even some toLo prefer ihavinj* the hiring

service on a permanent basi'?, rather than have their own car. They Are 6Upplied with a new car each year, and the cost of their motoring, plus all repairs, is known by them beforehand. In England most of the hire services are conducted on a basis of so much per mile, the firm paying for all the benzine and oil used. The system in New Zealand is different, and when cars are hired here it is usually on a basis of so much per mile or per day, the hirer to pay for benzine. Value for Holiday. Where three or four people are going together for a holiday, a hired ear offers great advantages, and can be as cheap, or cheaper than other fonns of transport. Any good firm will meet you in the expense. The question of hiring a car is one that should certainly be considered by those who are going for an extended holiday in a party of three or four. If the journey Avill be taking several weeks, but the distance travelled is likely to be less than the average, the hiring firm will probably meet you; in other words, the agreement can be altered to suit individual circumstances. There i<3 flexibility in the arrangement, and it can be made mutually profitable.