MOTORING.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17702, 2 March 1923, Page 4

MOTORING.

NEW ZEALANDER'S TOUR. 13,400 MILES BY A CADILLAC. An account of a motor tour through America, Canada, England, and Australia, was given to "iloadster" yesterday by Mr E. H. Cucksey, of Auckland, who returned to New Zealand last month, after a twelve months trip abroad. Mr Cucksey is a great admirer of the Cadillac car, arid he has returned more pleased than ever with the machine, which is the sixth of that make that he has owned. He picked the car up at the factory in Detroit, having arranged to buy it through Mr David Crozier, of C'hristchurch. From Detroit Mr Cucksey and his party motored through several of the States and a part of Canada. He was fortunate enough to meet the engineer in charge of the work of laying 1 the new concrete roads in Pennsylvania, and that gentleman told him that the form of concrete road previously in usa had been found to be too light. The new roads were being made eight inches deep, and the upper two inches were being reinforced with steel wire mesh. The average wiiitu of the concrete portion of the roaus throughout the State is 18 feet. All the roads the New Zealanders travelled oyer in America were good, even those in the country between the towns. Some roads in the States are laid in tarick, which make good surfaces. American Speed TirJt. In Indianapolis, Mr Cucksey saw the 500 mile track motor race, won by Jimmy Murphy in his "Murphy Special," the average time for the whole of the 500 miles being 94.54 per hour. The track and all the appointments at this place are perfect. Everything connected with the big race was run under snlendid management, each of the 30 cars starting on time without a hitch. The track, Mr Cucksey considers, is much superior to Brooklands. One of its features is the sub-ways leading from the side, under the track to the centre of the "round. tourists' Welcome. In Canada the road conditions reminded the travellers of New Zealand, for there were not the many miles of concrete, 'such as were met -with, in America. The Canadians go in.for ""welcome" notices at the entrance to some of their towns, one of the notices seen en route read as follows: —"You are now entering .the town of Grimsby. Grimsby welcomes you.'' On. leaving the town, the motorist is confronted with another signboard, bearing the words: "Thank you. Call again." From Buffalo to Montreal the roads were bad, but on approaching the border again they improved and coming down to New York alongside the Hud-son-river the surfaces were good. Splendid Garage Service. The splendid service offered the touring motorist by the garages in America and Canada appealed to the New Zealanders. The big garages keep a night-shift staff engaged and. a car can be left at night, and taken out the next morning washed and polished. In Detroit there is a garage with accommodation for 953 cars. This may sound incredible,' but it is explained by the fact that cars can be'parked on each of the five floors. Entering from the street, the motorist drives through two lines of cars, and at the turn enters upon a graded concrete drive, which goes up to the next floor. In this way a car can be driven from the road to the roof. The garage fees arc dearer in America, ranging anywhere from one to two dollars a night. Speedy Car Packing. One of the smartest pieces of work Mr Cucksey saw in America was the packing of his car at New York for shipment to England. x~iie vessel was to sail on a Tuesday, and Mr Cucksey enquired about shinning the car-on the previous' Friday. On being told that Monday afternoon was uie last day for receiving cargo, he tuought it would be necessary to leave the car a few days prior to the sailing date, but the firm of packers, Messrs Brady and Sons, merely asked him to run the car down to allow measurements to be taken and return with it at S.iyj a.m. on the Monday. He did so. and the car was dismantled, wheels, hood, windscreen, back stays, etc., being removed, packed ir. a case and placed in the hold of the vessel before 1 p.m. on the samo day. These "hustle'' methods contrasted sharply with later experiences in England. A firm of packers there required the car to be delivered to them 23 days before the ship sailed! Land's End to John o' Groats. In England, the New Zealanders had a delightful time touring through the beautitul countiysid'e, the quaint old towns, and the big cities. Mr Cucksey has nothing hut praise for the assistanco ho received from- the Royal Automobile Club ami the Automobile Association. These bodies are the best of their kind in the world, and their officers give the traveller every assistancein regard to disembarking, Customs, planning tours,, etc. From Southampton, the party motored as far as John o' Groats, visiting the lakes en route. ■ On their return, they met M:- and Mrs- A. W. Carey, of Christcl'.urch. and motored back with them right through to Land : s End. It was during the'latter - part of the tour in England -that the Erst puncture was n'(eiv;."i. The speeiJbnieter had then rcgiiiU-rc-d S'G'.G lviles. The tiu'.ea/ir.r.iis.'d roads in England provide r* splendid solace, and there is an iMdA'i :of duas. In the country there nrs /jinny hedges which obscure the vL'W at corners, and the cue-' ful motorist has to restrain the impulseto -take advantage of the good surface and speed up a bit. The garage service in England is not to be compared wiih that offered in America. No night staffs are engaged for washing and cleaning cars, and the motorist does not receive the same attention. The garage fees are chenner, ranging from Is (3d to 2s Gd per nigtit. When Mr Cucksey left England, benzine had dropped in price to 2s a gallon. Trade Control. The heavy traffic in the big cities was found to be well controlled, but slow moving compared to that in the American cities. The "thrce-lijht control" system in vogue in New lurk was found to be very efficient in long streets. From a signal'station at the point of intersection a red light is shown, for "stop," an orange light for "get ready to move," and a preen light* for safety. In releasing the hcld-up traffic the light is shown Erat for "get ready," and wlien the green light appears the waiting cars move forward rapidly. The stranger who moves off elowly and cautiously is nromotiy told

HOME AND ABROAD.

(BY "ROADSTER.")

by a hustling taxi-driver in the rean. to "step on his gas." * . Mr Cucksev and lus party left the, car behind in England when they left for France, where they attended the unveiling of the memorial to the New Zealand soldiers at Longcval. There thev met Mr A. W: Bcayon-, ot: Christchurch, and a few other New Zealanders The party visited Germany, Austria Switzerland, and Italy, and picked up the Cadillac again in Australia, where three weeks were spent in motoring to the various places of interest before entering upon the final stage of the journey home. NOTES. Tl:o increasing popularity of English motor-cycles in this country is largely due to the fact that the manufacturers • arc taking pains to keep themselves better-informed as to the requirements of overseas riders. The small number of English agencies has lati'ly been augmented by the arrival in Christchureh. of the fir-it 3i h.o. Norton, a machine which has made and held its name whcrever'reliability or speed trials havo been conducted. Of sturdy construction, large section tyres, and adequate road' clearance, the new Norton, especially designed for New Zealand roads, wifl undoubtedly attract those who have been looking forward to the reappearance of. British-made motor-cycles at a reasonable price. Henry Ford's unique success as a maker of inexpensive automobiles has no doubt tempted many men, in the past, to try to produce a car at a similar low selling price. Of these men, one, Klingen Smith, formerly Ford's right-hand man, with the .aid of John Beall—late vjce-president of the Packard Co. —has brought out a neat roadster named "T.'ie G:ay." Possessing all the good features of much higherpriced cars, the Gray is selling at under £250. The suggestion of the New Zealand Motor Union that the South Island Union should support the - northern body's nominee for a seat on the Main Highways Board was unanimously turned down by the executive of the South Island Union last night. It was stated that all the South Island Motor Associations had supported Mr J. S. , Hawkes' nomination, and as the membership of those bodies was fully double that of the North Island Union, the request of the northern organisation could not be entertained. "I hope motorists will take note of this and- vote accordingly, at the next municipal elections,'' said the president of the South Island Motor Union at last night's meeting of the executive, when a letter from the Christclrurch City Council was received rejecting the Union's proposal that a by-law should be introduced making it compulsory for all vehicles upon which the driver's view of the rear is obscured to carry mirrors It was decided, to reply to the City Council, asking it to reconsider its decision. "Your letters were considered by the executive," wrote the secretary of the New"'Zealand Counties? 'Association, and it was resolved to circularise County Councils suggesting that when by-laws are being amended pro%*ision should be made to compel all motor vehicles being provided with mirrors, so that any vehicle approaching from the rear can be seen." "That is a more"sensible letter," said the president, and the communication was received with expressions of gratification. It was agreed to forward a copy of the letter to the City Council.

"I can give you an instance of the necessity for mirrors," said'Mr Halliday (Dunedin).~ "I was driving behind a loaded motor waggon the other day. It was in the middle of the road, and did not move over when I sounded my horn, for the driver could not hear me,' let alone see me. I drew alongside the waggon, and as I was about to pass on my proper side, the waggon swung over to its left side, with the result that I was forced into the ditch, and broke a spring. If that waggon had been equipped with a mirror the driver would have known that I was coming behind. "Dozens of such instances could be given," 'said the president. "It makes one wonder what reasonable men-cail see in the proposal to object ■'toy .■'■".; . . "The Halswell County Council has approved the proposal," said Mr B. Macartney. "In. fact, it has gone further than we suggested—it has recommended that wool-waggons should be equipped with periscopes." . Advice has been received by the secretary of the South Island Motor Union from the Comptroller of Customs, showing the total quantity and value of petrol imported into New Zealand during the past three years. The figures are as follows: — Gallons. £ 1922 ... 16,585,616 1,701,551" 1921 '.. 19,138,846 2,031,630 I 1920 '.. 17,970,995 1,845,000 I The values shown represent the fair market values in the countries of export, plus 10 per cent. During the slump the .lower-priced cars were in the greatest demand, but now that the financial position is improving the medium-priced and even the most luxurious car is coining back to popular favour. The mere fact that buyers are looking for better cars is one of the most optimistic signs of the times, and one that has done much to reassure traders of the ultimate return to normal conditions. A few highquality cars have found buyers in Christchurch and Canterbury lately, and there are prospects of more being Elaie in the near future. Messrs •avid Orozier, Ltd., have just unpacked a new eight-cylinder Cadillac "Victoria" which arrived under special order placed through their agency. This is one of the most handsome cars which the agency has ever imported. It has a closed-in body, splendidly fin-', ished with : every modern refinement. The upper part is painted black, the lower portion being in dark blue, with the. wire wheels done in pale yellow. The whole of the exterior has a beautiful polish, while the interior is luxuriously upholstered in mole-coloured plush. The dashboard is simple, but splendidly equipped, and the controls on the' steering wheel have been reduced to two thumb-levers. Theire are no draetic changes in the essential mechanical design, but every refinement possible to introduce had been .added.