MOTOR UNION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17320, 5 December 1921, Page 4

MOTOR UNION.

QUARTERLY MEETING. (special to "the FEE??.") IN VERCAR GILL, December 3. The quarterly meeting of the South Island Motor Union was held last night. Present—Messrs F. "W. Johnston (president), J. W. Hawkes, X. M. Or bell (Canterbury), E. Hinds (Pioneer Sports Club), A. E. Ansell, H. Halliday, A. L. Fogo (Otago), E. R. Guinness (South Canterbury), J- R-.Ha.igh and F. G. O'Beirne (-South]and). The president, in referring to the Main Highways Bill, said that counties teemed to be afraid of losing their identity in regard to the control of roads under the proposed Boards. He thought that the Union would have to back their support of North Island and South Island Boards, by a scheme which would give counties a voice. Counties were asking that money for upkeep should be handed over to them proportionately, but their districts were too small/ To his mind it would be bettor if the South Island were iplit into about six districts, each containing five or six counties. Each district would elect a nominee to the Board. Mr Johnston further said that he ■would be quite satisfied to see about three men elected as the direct representatives of the motorists on the Board. Every county councillor was a motorist by instinct. He was afraid that county councils would stand up to Mr Coates,. and that the Highways Bill would not be pushed. The Government would be only too glad to see it held up, and probably, in the meantime, the £'200,000 to be' paid by motorists under the. tariff would go into the general fund. His suggestion, he explained, was a proposal alternative to the motorists' original suggestion. Mr J. It. Haigh (Invercargill) moved that "Tho delegates to give evidence before the -Government- on the Motor Vehicles Bill, when dealing with theMain Highways Bill, urge the Government to support Mr Johnston's suggestion in the event of the other suggestion ret bang adopted/' Mr Hailidav (Dunediu) said he understood that Mr Coates had an alternative Bill giving representation to motorists and county councils that he interred to introduce if the original BiH was rejected. The motion was carried. It was further asked for two and, if possible, four representative!; of the motorists on the proposed Soutih Island Board. On the motion of'Mr Ansell _(Dunedin) it -was resolved "That, in tho event of the Motor Vehicles Bill not being passed, this Union urges that all money raised from the tax on tyres ha set aside in a trust fund, and speedily earmarked for the upkeep of roads." I A lengthy communication from the I Good Roads Association, supporting: the .Slain Highways Bill in its principles, was siaiply •'received." Mr Ansell ''said it was evident that the Association v;as an Auckland body, after any mon.ey that might be available for thoir district. Mr Haliiday, who was present at the Conference, said the Association had decided in favour of two boards,-but. they now carefully omitted that fact. In Mr Fogo's opinion, the cohimunication was "mostly wind." Some, discussion arose- out of a suggestion brought forward by a ■ committee set up lor- the purpose of considering an improved pystem of motor .registration areas. Th 0 committee suggested that registration shou/d be undertaken by the police. The opinion was freely expressed, however, *,hut : the • Jovernnwn wov.H.Tiot ayree to extra, work being taken over by the policeEventually it was decided to ask. that *he larger districts should be introduced, the idea being that' by this means: offenders woidd be traced much easier than ..it, pre--out'. When a list of official hotels -was being considered, Mr Uiiinmss said it was considered by his Association f hat official garages should nlso be appointed, it being thought that thereby motorists into sirango towns' would be gfardod against inferior workmanship in the event of a breakdown. It was-decided that clubs should be asked to supply "oi-tsidf" signs for hotels, in regard to which it was resolved, on the motion of the Dunedin delegates, io ask Ihe North Island Onion to arrange for a system of-reci-procity.

A fear was expressed that the-sugges-tion to select garages would be unworkable, and.if' was resolved to drop the matter, A mction onposing a suggestion that revenue should be soueht after through, the Motor Vehicles Bill was unanimously passed.