AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13468, 7 July 1909, Page 4

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the committee of the Automobile Association was held last evening. Present —Messrs W. E. Mills (in the chair), R. English, R. B. Walker, J as. Troup, A. L. Pratt. C. M. OHivier, and Dr. Simnson. Mr G. E. F. Kingseote was elected a member of the Association. The U,pper Ashburton Road Board advised that it had no objection to tho erection of signal pests near watercourses on the Main South road, provided that they did not interfere with traffic. It was decided to hold this matter over until replies were received from other bodies which had been approached. A notice was received from Mr H. F. Allen, who had been appointed liquidator, that the New Zealand Automobile Association had been dissolved.

Tho Chairman stated that the annual meeting would be held in August. Messrs Mills, English, and Ollivier wero appointed a sub-committee to draw up tho amniHl report.

The question of holding a motor reliability trial this year was discussed. A few representatives of the motor car trade were present by invitation. Mr English suggested that if a trial were held, there should be separate contests for the private owners and the trade. Private owners had no chance against those in the business.

The Chairman moved: —"That in view of the lack of interest taken by the trade, the trial be not held tliia year."

Mr Troup seconded the motion. Mr Walker thought that the trade should have attended the meeting and given the Association something to work on.

Mr Troup questioned whether owners got any information or benefit from the trials.

The matter was discussed at some length, the feeling being that "unless the trade took more interest in the trial, their section at least should be dropped. It was said that many private owners were anxious for a trial.

Mr Tranter said that there wero some firms who would have nothing to do with the trials. However, thero wero others who wanted them held, if they were run properly. There were same complaints about last year's trials, and the trade wanted to get more useful information and the benefit of the experience gained. He thought that observers should be required to know the parts of the cars, and know the reasons of stops. Other members said that it would be impossible to get tho number of qualified observers required. Mr English suggested that a full report should be drawn up from the ob-sea-vers' reports, giving information which might prove useful.

After further discussion it was resolved that the question be deferred till the annual meeting, and that the trade be advised that the feeling of the committee was that unless more interest was shown the trial would not be held.