CANTERBURY AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14380, 13 June 1912, Page 7

CANTERBURY AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. Tho annual distribution of prizes in connection with tho Canterbury Automobile Association took placo at tho Hotel Federal last night, when thcro woe-a< largo attendance of members prosont. , Tho president, Mr W. E. .Mils, -was'in tho chair. ' The toast of "Tho Kins" was proposed by tho President,. and duly honoured. Tho toast of "Tho Parliament of Now Zealand"' was proposed by Mr S. P. Andrews. The Hon. Charles Lonisson, M.L.C.,/. in responding, eaid that tho present were rather exciting times politically, and that explained why so many mom- • - bora of Parliament were absent. There Wero a number of po.itical tit-bite going round, and it . behoved every member to look after himself. There would bo considerable developments during tho coming session, but Ire thought that no Government would bo much of a Government that did not , encourage tho motor trade.. Tho trade , now , was a most import&ut' one, and ho believed that automobiMeni would reocivo the generous support of any Govornineufc that might be- constituted. I Such associations as the Canterbury Automobilo Association were doing r good work in tho way of endeavouring to rational regulation 'of traffic, and of urging tho necessity of I having good roade, and properly ' bridged road 3. He thought the Association should tnko care to impress on . its members tho noaessLfcy of caro when driving. Ho had noticed in "Tho Press" that day a reference to tho i licensing and • examination of taxidrivers. The motor traffic of London furnished an object lesson of the good to bo achieved ■ by, such a system, for in that city all tho drivers were competent Jind skilful men, and although tlio traffic was it was never dangerous.. Ho thought it would be n. good p'.an to havu such a system introduced here. . Dr. Tliacker, who propoGcd tho toasb of "Our City Fathers," urged th 0 importance of having adopted a universal lighting law. Tho registration and examination of drivers waa also a most important matter. It was high time also tlint the central tramway poles . should bo removed, and by-lawa governing cycle traffic shou.d also bo adopted, for at present cyclists were subject to no restraint, and* could do as they liked on the road. Councillor Sorenscn, Deputy-Mayor, who responded, (said tho City Council was quite alive to the fact that the city wanted good roada. In tho past, however, it would have been fol.y to have put good surfaces on the roads while they wore being broken up, but now that trouble had largely ceased, and ho did not tliiiik it would bo loug before better roads were provided. The toast of ''The Prize Winners" was proposed by Dr. Loui&Kon, and res- . jwnded to by Messrs N. C. Gikhrist, F. Hubbard, and F. W. Johnatcn. Tho pri»c-s wero then' presented to tlie successful competitors. » ■.--..-- Other toasts honoured were "The . Ji:<l'JC," "Tho Honorary Observers," "The President," "Unsuccessful Competitors," and "The Press." A most onjovablo musical programmo was submitted during the evening, items being contributed by Mr" A. L. Cropp, Mr Vor© Buchanan, Mr »• White-Parsons, Mr \V. Cook, and Mr R. A. Home.