MOTORING

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20025, 5 September 1930, Page 6

MOTORING

"Roadster" invites articles and paragraphs of interest to motorists for this page. SAFE DRIVING. In spite of the severe penalties imposed from time to time by Magistrates on motorists brought before the Court for reckless driving there seems to be but little diminution in the number of offenders. One reads every week of .motorists whose licenses are taken away from tbcui because it is considered that they are not to be trusted on the highways behind a wheel, and occasionally a sentence of imprisonment is imposed; yet the offences continue. The driver of almost every type of motor vehicle these days is guilty at times of speeding, aud even riders of bicycles are not beyond reproach. The maximum speed over au intersection in the City is fifteen miles per hour, but like too many others this rule is observed more in the breach than the observance, and in this counexion some of tho worst offenders aro taxi-men, a great proportion of whom "drive ou the brakes." One has only to stand for a few moments at a City intersection to realise the truth of this.

Fifteen miles an hour appears to bo a very low rate of speed when driving a car that is capable of doing 75 miles an hour, but it is as well to forget a car's capacity in a centre of population. High speeds might bo all right on a straight road in tbe country but they are not wanted in a city. Concerning motor-cyclists, it is not uncommon to seo a machine suddenly dart out across an intersection at an excessive speed, the rider being obviously unaware of the rate at which he is travelling. Even cyclists tako too much for granted and some of them will go over a crossing as if they wore certain that there was no likelihood of any motor vehicle being near them at tho moment. A fact that seems to bo overlooked by most drivers is that if they aro travelling at a speed of, say, 30 miles per hour, and another car is coming towards them at a similar speed they are approaching each othor at CO miles per hour. If there was a collision at such a speed tho result would undoubtedly bo grave. It therefore bcliovcß drivers when on a narrow road or on a bend to slow down to a reasonable speed if they are desirous of avoiding trouble. A very important point which should be learned by all drivers is ncvor to overtake another car unless there is a clear road ahead. This means that on no account should a driver attempt to pass a ear on a bend or the brow of a hill. When the driver of a car is sigualled by the driver of another car about to overtake him ho should of course draw over to the left, provided that there is nothing ahead to make it inadvisable to do so which the rear driver fci una"ble owing to his position to bo able to see. The front driver should always givo way to tho one behind him if the laltcr's car is travelling at a faster rate than his if it is safe to tako such a step and, on the other hand, if such a course is dangerous then the leading driver should warn tbo man coming up behind him. This is simply a matter of courtesy. Five good rules to assist in maintaining safety are: — 1. Keep down the speed. 2. Keep the centre of gravity as low as possible. Do not put heavy objects on the roof of a sedan. 3. Keep a turn as wide as possible and keep it steady. ! 4. Do not take chances on a slippery road with smooth tyres. A smooth tyro on a wet asphalt road pushes tbo water before it in a skid and lubricates, its path ns it goes. 5. Do not use brakes on a skiddy surface. * * ROAD PATROLS. The question of road patrols is a very live ooe among South Island motoring authorities at tho moment and it is probable that in tho near future it will be found that thero will be few main highways in the Island that are not patrolled. The Canterbury Automobile Association recently put two patrols on the road, one to operat> on the Main North road, the other's duties keeping him to the Main South road. Tbo Otago Motor Club had for some time previous to this had two men on tho road and was followed by tho Southland Motor Association, which put one man on duty. The latest organisation to como into line is the South Canterbury Automobile Association, which has equipped its officer (Mr F. T. Owcrs) with a Ford

BY "ROADSTER."

c:ir and put him on the main road between Otaio and tbe Rangitata river, liis hours being from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on week days and from 9 a.m. to .10 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. At the last quarterly meeting of tbo South Island Motor TJnion at Oamaru the question of inaugurating a system of patrols from Kelson to JJluff was discussed and it was announced that ■with the patrols then or shortly to be placed on the road it -was only necessary to bring in tbo Nelson, Marlborough, North Gtago, and Waimato organisations to enable the whole of tbe main roods on. the east coast to bo patrolled. The question is likely to be discussed again at the annual meeting to be held in Christchurch this month, when a report is to be submitted by delegates who will meet for the purpose the day before. It is likely also that something will be done in the direction of extending the Canterbury Association's patrol system to tbe West Coast during the busier summer months. When one discusses patrols one's thoughts naturally fly to England, where there is a magnificent system conducted by the Automobile Association. The subscription for membership of this organisation is a good deal higher than that paid by members of the Canterbury Automobile Association, for instance, being £2 2s annually, plus an entrance fee of 10s Cd, whereas in Canterbury the annual subscription is £1 Is, without an entrance fee. To become a member of the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland costs 10s Cd, and the subscription is a guinea and a half. It will bo seen, therefore, that membership of the local Association is a much less costly matter than is generally recognised, and in view of this it is rather surprising that there should bo ouch a service availablo as the present patrol system. NOTES. A slight deviation has to bo made at present along the Main North road immediately past tho portion known as the Geraldine-Winchester road. Two bridges hereabouts are closed to traffic, pending re-erection, and it is expected that about twelve months will elapse before they will be completed. Tho deviation is on tho south side of the road, and foes through some paddocks, and as the ground is likely to become very soft in wot weather it is advisable to proceed straight through Orari and thence on to the Rangitata bridge.

Information has been received from the South Canterbury Automobile Association to the effect that it is not advisable to use the Lindis Pass route to Pembroke at-present. It is necessary for motorists traversing this route to take chains with them, while in frosty weather the road is dangerous.

In a letter to the secretary of tho South Island Motor Union (Mr P. R. Harman), the secretary of tho Royal Automobile Club of Queensland stated that he was recently called on by Mr F. W. Freeman, president of the Canterbury Automobilo Association, who discussed with him tho question of third party insurance. The writer asked for particulars of the scheme of insurance conducted by the local Union's Mutual Insurance Association, and stated that tbe Queensland Government was contemplating introducing such a form of insurance. It was, however, intended to make the premium in Queensland £3, as against £1 in New Zealand.

Messrs A. E. Ansell, retiring president, and Mr F. W. Johnston have been nominated for tbe office of president of the South Island Motor Union. For tbe office of vice-president tho following nominations have been received: Dr. Gibbs (Nelson), Mr H. C. Harley (Christchurch), Mr F. G. O'Bierne (Southland), and Mr J. L. Passmore (Otago). .

One of the remits to be considered at the annual meeting of the Sojjth Island Motor Union in Christchurch this month is from tbe South Canterbury Automobile Association. It is that all affiliated Associations charge the same subscription to members.

The annual meeting of the South Island Motor Union Mutual Insurance Association is to be held at 30 a.m. on the 25th inst. Both of the retiring directors, Messrs 11. C. Harley and W. L. Minson, have been renominated for re-election by several Associations.

Mr R. B. Walker has boen appointed manager of the business conducted at 149 Gloucester street, in the Theatre Royal Buildings, by Christchurch Motors, Ltd. »

Mr Alan H. Oakes, lately service manager of the Todd Motor Company, Cliristchurch, has joined the sales staff of Messrs A. S. Pater3on and Co., Ltd., in Christchurch.

Some idea as to the amount of material used in a modern car factory can be gained by the fact that 1000 tons of paint; and varnish and 1000 tons of horsehair and padding are used annually in the manufacture of Citroen cars. More than 150,000 tons of steel in bars and sheets are used, besides 100,000 square yards of glass and 15,000 tons of castings. In ten years the various machines employed in the Citroen factories have increased from 3500 to 15,000, while the stafE employed ha 3 risen from 4500 to over 25,000 people. In a new booklet, entitled "Tests that Prove Motor Spirit Quality," the Vacuum Oil Company has changed the highly technical language of the laboratory to the language of the motorist in order to describe the salient features of fuel quality in relation to motor-car performance. The tests are concerned with motor spirit, and the book tells why fuel needs to be tested, and then, in detail, how. The chief apparatus described is the Delce testing engine, fitted with th« Midgley bouncing pin, an ingenious dovice which measures the "knock " iu fuel 3 readily and accurately. Motorists who are interested in the operation of their cars and would like to learn more of the importance of fuel can obtain a copy of this booklet free of charge from the Tacuum Oil Company.

CHEMISTRY'S OBJECTIVES. SUBSTITUTE FOR PETROL. Asked what ho thought were the greatest immediate benefits which chemistry was likely to confer on the world. Professor Herbert R. Moody, a director of the College of Chemistry, New York, in an interview in London recently, said: "I should place first a cheap find abundant substitute for petrol. It has been done in the laboratory and I believe it is coming in industry. Hydrocarbons can be made by getting hydrogen from water and carlxms from coal or wood and a cheaper and more abundant fuel than petrol will be produced I saw them working on the problem iii Milan.

"Next would be obtaining cellulose from chemical processes instead of from trees. We fan already make sugar synthetically and an American chemist has turned sugar into cellulose, so the synthetic production of cellulose cannot be far off. We shall then have chemical sources for clothing and paper and numerous other articles of daily importance."