ROAD MANNERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 9

ROAD MANNERS.

MOTORISTS PRAISED. SIR S. COOKE'S TRIBUTE. 'SOMETHING LEARNED IN N.Z.' (From Our Own Correspondent.) PA LMERSTON N, this day. Admiration for courtesies of the road lie had seen displayed by New Zealand motorists, was expressed last evening by Sir Stensou Cooke, secretary of the Automobile Association of Great Britain, when being accorded a welcome bv the executive of the Automobile Association (Manawr.tu). Speakers hnd referred to the loads that the British organisation had given the Empire in matters of motoring, but Sir Stenson said he had already learned something in New Zealand. He would pay an unhesitating tribute to the NewZealand motoriet for courtesy on the road. "We have been endeavouring to inculcate into the people of Great Britain the spirit of give and take between road users and it isn't easy," he stated. "I want to admit that from the point of view of road manners you are easily ahead of us." Sir Stenson recalled that there was a spirit of give and take in England 25 years ago, when people drove round in "oil stoves." They were only too glad to recognise that in the other fellow was a possible sufferer, and to exchange greetings. In New Zealand, whether the man ahead was in a lorry or a baby car, he was always ready to give way to the car behind. A couple of toots and there was an immediate and generous response. He told of an experience on his way to Gisborne, when the ear he was in had caught up on a lorry. The driver of the latter had pulled to the side to let the car he was in go by, and as he passed the lorry he had waved a "tnank you." To his great delight there had come from the lorry two short "pip pips'' as much as to say, "All right, old man, very glad to oblige." Sir Stenson said he had travelled 2000 miles in 10 days' in New Zealand and had not seen a single instance of really bad driving or discourtesy.