MOTOR INTERESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 194, 18 August 1933, Page 8

MOTOR INTERESTS.

N.I.M.U. CONFERENCE.

FIXED SPEEDS QUESTION. MAIN HIGHWAYS FINANCE. A variety of remits were discussed at to-day's concluding session of the North Island Motor Union's Conference. Mr. W. A. O'Callaghan presided.

Almost the whole of yesterday afternoon's session was occupied with discussion in committee arising out of the action of the Auckland Autombile Association in changing its name to Automobile Association. A resolution was passed, but was not made known to the Press.

The conference carried a motion reaffirming its adherence to the principle that driving to the common danger should he the only offence of the sort under law, and urged that in accordance with British law in criminal cases the onus of proving innocence should not be placed on persons charged with motoring offences. It was also urged that the fixed speeds as prima-facie proof of an offence should be abolished, and, further, that until the law was altered in accordance with the resolutions, an increase of five miles an hour in the primafacie speeds set out in the regulations should he Inade as a temporary expedient.

It was decided that the attention of club secretaries should be drawn to the fact that the arrangements agreed upon for the telegraphed notification re stolen cars had not been carried out and that secretaries should be requested to issue the necessary advice in future.

The conference decided to take up the question of registration fees for all classes of trailers, along with the question of securing short time registrations for trailers.

Radios for Patrol Cars. The feasibility of having all patrol cars fitted with radio receiving sets, with the object of facilitating the recovery of stolen cars, was stressed* by Mr V. Duff (Taranaki). The matter was referred to the executive committee. «

A remit that the appropriate authorities should be asked to make provision for the cancellation of the licensing of a motor vehicle and the refund of part of the fee, on the application of the owner, was lost.

A report on the subject of main highwavs finance was not made available to the" Press. Mr. E. A. Batt (Wellington), who drew up the report, gave the opinion that if the union did not develop some national policy to depose derating they would find that it would come on to them. It was no good to wait for the position to become dangerous, and motorists did not wish to see the whole of the burdeir placed on them. Mr. M. H. Wynyard; the motorists' representative on the Highways Board, warned the conference not to do anything that would precipitate the question of derating., It .was": decided that the matter should.be referred to the executive.

After a number, of conflicting opinions had been expressed,, it was decided to recommend to the'bodies concerned that gates on "Country:"roads should be replaced by cattle Stops. The matter of driving stock on roads at night was referred .to the executive. "Safety First." Other remits carried were:—(l) That the union should have a summary made up" from the present school lectures in the form of instructions on "safety first" rules and principles, and should endeavour to have the instructions inserted in all scout and guide manuals; (2) that it be a request to the Main Highway 3 Board that~iocal authorities should be encouraged to extend the white marking on main highways— in the centre and white posts and stones on the sides —as an essential guide and safety measure for traffic; (3) that it be a request to the Government to amend the Police Offences Act to provide that notice of intention to prosecute for breaches of the Motor Vehicles Act and attendant regulations must be served within a reasonable time of the breach, not exceeding three weeks; (4) that as. far. as motor cases are concerned, the union should oppose the proposal of the Minister of Justice to make fuller use of the justices of the peace in Court cases, and that the union considers it would be a retrograde step to extend, the scope of justices in the case of motor offences, , , . •-'"-J--Election'' of Officers';' Mr. W. A. iO'Callaghan (Hawera) was re-elected president of the union, . and Dr. E. E. Porritt (Wanganui) and.Mr. J. H. Edmundson (Napier) were reelected vice-presidents. The election to the executive of nominees of affiliated associations wais r declared as follow: — Messrs. A. . Grayson (Auckland), E. Palliser (Wellington), J. H. Edmundson (Hawke's Bay), N. H. Mackie (Manawatu), K, W. Eoydhouse (Wairarapa), G. A. Carter (South Taranaki), D. Macfarlane (Wanganui) and U. Duff (Taranaki). ' . »

It was decided that the next annual meeting should "be held at Napier.

..' The visiting delegates, who liist evening "were the guests of the Automobile Association at dinner, were this' afternoon taken on a' sight-seeing tour of the city! "•"■