MOTORING

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17748, 27 April 1923, Page 6

MOTORING

NOTES

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T£e Canterbury Automobile Association approached the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coatcs, 011 the occasion of his recent visit hero, and stressed the necessity for the deviation of the Dyer's Pass-Gover-nor's Bay road. The Minister replied to the effect that he would ask Mr F. Langbein, District Public Works Engineer, to submit an early report on the matter.

A new plug terminal has Tccently been produced in England, which enables one to see the frequency and nature of the spark. It is made from hard waterproof vulcanised fibre, and incorporates in its construction a locking device for attachment to any plug with a spigot end, thus enabling an instantaneous connexion to be made. On the uppermost side is a screw-on mica window, which enables a clear viow of the spark to bo obtained. The terminal is also shock-proof.

On the occasion of his recent visit to Christchurch, the Minister of Public Works informed a member of the Canterbury Automobile Association that the personnel of the Highways Board would be appointed about May Ist.

Progress in the construction of creeper for caterpillar track vehicles during the last few years, due largely to experience with them during the war, has been so remarkable that their groatly extended use, especially for transport in undeveloped countries, may be confidently expected in the not far distant future. "Motor Transport" (England) believes that there is an immense future for vehicles witli self-laying tracks, the more so as numerous important developments of a radical nature are imminent. The successful passage across the Sahara by a fleet of Citroen motors so equipped has strengthened this belief. While tlio rate of travel by these vehicles might be comparatively slow, it is certain and practically constant; that is to say, it is almost impossible for them to be bogged.

At the conference in London of the International Association of Recognised Automobile Clubs last December, the Auto. Clubs of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden submitted a proposition for a universal danger signal on roads. It was adopted, although the conference realised that it would take considerable time before any peoplo would abandon their present systems of indicating dangerous places on the highways.

The Wellington Automobile Club are going in for a very extensive scheme of erecting direction signs in their district, and have been supplied, on request, with copies of designs and other information necessary from the Canterbury Automobile Association.

That every member of the Police Force —at least those on traffic duty—■ should understand the mechanism of a motor, and be able, if need be, to drive a car, is recognised at Scotland Yard, where the authorities are putting a number of constables through a special course to give them a requisite amount of knowledge to enable them'to understand, more or less, the working of cars and motor-evcles, and also to acquaint them with the law as it applies to the motor. The next thing necessary is the institution of a Traffic Court, where cases appertaining would be heard and decided by a properly qualified bench.

American motor journals comment freely upon the failure of the cycle-car to oust the motor-cycle and side-car from popular favour, and even in the case of the light car the papers point out that British motorists make their choice according to the appeal each type of vehicle makes to them as individuals, and not on a comparison of the ruling prices. What many Americans cannot understand is that so many prefer the side-car combination, and it is worthy of note that, despite a population three times as numerous, ther6 are more motor-cycles in use in Great Britain than in the United States.

On Anzac Day the Canterbury Automobile Association supplied some ten cars for the use of returned soldiers and veterans.

According to opinions gathered by the "Scientific American," the best is yet to come from the automobile, notwithstanding the momentous and rapid development during the last two 'decades which has placed it in a class with the leading industries of the world. That the automobile of to-day is nearly as perfect as it is humanly possible to make a mechanical vehicle, is believed in some quarters, but motor designers, manufacturers, and inventors appreciate that many essential improvements must be made in the motor before it reaches the _ stage _ of mechanical perfection. It is predicted that future development of the automobile depends very largely upon how it best can utilise fuel. It lacks internal efficiency—the capability _ of converting petrol into power with minimum waste of the fuel. To eliminate some of the waste, the spirit, as it is fed to the carburetter, must be well warmed, as well as atomised and vapourised, and to the same end cars of the future will be provided with simple carburetter-throttling devices, which may bo attached convenientiy_ to the steering wheel, so that the drivor can adjust the instrument to suit tlie travelling conditions without trouble.

The Tecent suggestion of the City Council, to the effect that cyclists should have reflectors secured at the roar of their machines, seems as yet to have had little effect, and the motorist who has dimmed his lights, should he possess powerful ones, in the first place, has still to keep open a wary eye to avoid unpleasant consequences, especially so far as tno cyclist is concerned.

(BY "ROADSTER »)

At a recent informal meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, (Great Britain), the subject for discussion was impulse starters which may not be confused with self-starters, impulse starter is an attachment to a magneto whereby, even though crankshaft may be rotating at a very slow rate, the magneto armature is caused to turn comparatively rapidly at the precise instant at which the contact breaker opens and the spark occurs at the plug. By means ot a well-designed impulse starter a strong spark can thus be ensured _at low crankshaft movement. _ A point oiten overlooked is that with an impulse starter the ignition timing is automatically retarded for the moment, so that the risk of injury through a backfire when starting the is considerably reduced. The ordinary ig-

nition lever can safely be left in the fuliv-advanccd position while starting. According to comments in the automobile Press in London some surprise was occasioned when it was learned by a count, of cars at the Motor Show 1 that out of 305 motors oil the British ; market only 31 are fitted with rims for straight-side tyres; the remainder have rims for beaded-edge (clincher) covers. At the annual meeting of the Marlborough Automobile Association, Mr G. B. ltichardson, one ot the founders of the Association, declined to accept nomination for a seat 011 the executive, on the grounds that he considered that younger men should be given an opportunity. In expressing regret at Mr Hichardson's decision, the president, Mr 11. P. Furness, referred to the' sterling work which Mr Richardson had done for the Association in the past—(applause)—and remarked that he had been associated with its affairs over a period of ten years. Mr lliehardson was the first president, and, with 0110 gap, had filled the presidency right up to last year—a record of which he should be justly proud. Mr Furness expressed, on behalf of the executive and himself, keen appreciation of Mr liichardson's long services and regret that he had found it necessary to sever his active connexion with it. (Applause.) Mr Richardson, in returning thanks, said he would always take the keenest interest in the welfare of the Association, which had his best wishes.

Tuesday's "Otago Daily Times" has the following:—Ue are advised that the statement in our issue of Saturday last that the Ford motor car distributors intended to acquire a property in Dunedin and to distribute the cars from there is incorrect. A new company is being floated to acquire tne dealership in Ford products for Dunedin city and surrounding districts, ana the Colonial Motor Co. (Ltd.), which is the distributor of Ford cars for New Zealand, will have no financial interest in this company. The new company is the Ford Motors (Dunedin), Ltd. It has purchased the Dominion Garage in Hope street, and it will be managed by Mr J. G. Philips, late of Auckland.

Mr R. P. Furness has been re-elected unopposed as president of the Marlborough Automobile Association. In proposing the re-election of Mr Furness, Mr W. G. lludd said the president had stood nobly to tlie Association during the year and had done yeoman service. In seconding the motion, Mr F. E. Fairweather said the president in his opening remarks had referred to the spade work which had been done during the year, and remarked that he hoped Mr Furness would remain in office until the harvest was reaped. Mr G. B. Richardson also cordially supported the re-election of Mr Furness,-who entered upon his second term of office amid applause.

In his address at the annual meeting of the Marlborough Automobile Association, the president (Mr 11. P. furness) said:—l want to express my firm belief that in linking up with the South Island Motor Union, the Association pursued- a wise course. Every motoring organisation on this side of Cook Strait is now affiliated with that progressive body, -and we can speak with one united voice when questions ailecting motorists come up for discussion in Parliament. The South Island Union tnkes a lively interest in every affiliated Associaton, and the practice of holding quarterly meetings of delegates in different centres cannot but lead to a better understanding of local conditions and tha problems confronting individual Associations. The Union iield a meeting in Ble.nheim last month, and those of us who were privileged to be present were, I am sure, all impressed by the earnestness which characterised its deliberations. Several members of our Association have already experienced the benefits which it is possible to secure in the way of concessions in hotel bills while touring. As you know, a large number of hotels in the South Island grant reductions on their ordinary tariffs to members of Associations affiliated with the South I Island Motor Union. All that is necessary to obtain these reductions is to produce one's membership card, which is obtainable from the secretary on payment of the annual subscription.. A motorist on a round trip to Christchurch and the West Coast would probably save the amount of his subscription by means of these concessions another argument, surely, why our membership should continue to grow.

In the United States has been formed the "Ford for President Club," which the admirers of Mr Henry Ford have inaugurated aa the commencement of a campaign for electing him to the Presidency. The club has for its slogan: "We Want Henry!" The chief grounds upon which his friends base their support is Mr Ford's remarkable talent as an organiser of big business, but he personally appeals for support on account of his plan for doipg away with the gold monetary standard, and replacing it with the one based on "units of energy."

A rather interesting scheme of "express" motor omnibus services for relieving congestion during peak hours of traffic is being considered in Paris. It is proposed that the express vehicles should adopt a different route from that followed by the ordinary service, and that they should be operated without conductors, tickets being issued at the starting point. As a complement to this proposal, it is also suggested that a certain number of the vehicles on the ordinary service should leave the starting place empty, being reserved for picking up waiting passengers at intermediate points.

Fortunately it has not been said of the motor-omnibus that owing to its comparatively great weight, it is more dangerous than the motor-car; on the other hand, there is a tribute to its safety where, at Eastbourne (England), owing to congestion caused by street repairs, the corporation's omnibus services have had for the first time in 17 years a fatal accident registered against them. The driver of the_ 'bus was exonerated, the coroner's jury expressing the opinion that an excessive width of road was under repair, and the portion left for traffic to pass was too narrow.

There is power in every drop of ".big Tree" Motor Spirit. Every shipment undergoes the most rigid analysis at the hands of independent petroleum chemists. It is impossible for one tin of inferior spirit to bear the ' Big Tree" brand; the name is your safeguard. It stands for quicker starting, more power and maximum speed. X"* up with "Big Tree" Motor Spirit before you start on your next long run. The result given will make you a buyer. Sold by all garages throughout the Dominion. A good spirit is worth calliug by name*