AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15605, 1 June 1916, Page 5

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Automobile Association was held v£-sterday afternoon, Air A. S.' Clarkspn presiding. The mooting was called to consider a request from the Minister of Public Healtli that the Association would assist in the conveyance of passengers from Culverden to Hanmer Springs on th© occasion o{ the opening of the Convalescent Homo for Sick and Wounded Soldiers next Saturday.

;.ncc had been given to th® Government in the matter of conveyance of wounded ers, this was a matter which would necessitate some consideration. I Dr. Chessm eaid he understood that some j 2CO invitations had l>ren issued by the Minister to various patriotic societies, mayors, and hospital boards. On receipt of th<s letter tho secrets it reported that he had informed' the Minister that lie would communicate with Mr Duncan Rutherford, the Associaticn'e representative ] in that district, and aak him to carry out I the arrangements on. behalf of tho Association.

A telegram wa« subsequently received from the Minister stating that he understood Mr Ilutherford was away from Canterbury, and again asking whether ho could rely" on members being at Culverden with their care. He offered to provide petrol for all cars. Mr F. W. Johnston eaid h© thought the whole function a waste of money and material. It was giving no assistance to the soldiers, merely to assist in a gathering for "speechifymg." etc. Personally, ho was against compliance with tho request. This wafi not tho time far ceremony and this kind of thing, which, did no material good, or increased the accommodation for soldiers. Aiter some discussion Mr P. R. Climia moved: "That tho Minister be informed that the Association as a body could not see ita way clear to accede to his request." The motion was seconded by Mr J. S. Hawkes.

i( .Mr "VV. E. moved as an amendment: "-t'liat the Minister be informed that the Association would ask ita mecibere, as private citizens, to he!p in the "matter." The nmendnu/nt, which ivaa seconded by ilr W. Scott, \rna carried.