NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20563, 3 June 1932, Page 6

NOTES.

A considerable number ol motorics no doubt \isitors to Christchiirch, have made the mistake when leaving the City of proceeding up Ilarewood road when intending .to take the .North Road In order to obviato such mistakes in the future the Canterbury Automobile Association has erected a sign opposite the i'apauui .Memorial To.wi liali, pointing the way to the north. Kerosene, crude oil. or other loruis of cheap 9 - spirit are being used by s6mo of the heavier forms of motor transport, and while this system is iu more or less experimental stages, motorists in traffic queues or on narrow road? are aavisod not to hang too' close to the rear of such vehicles, as the heavy and particularly obnoxious fumes have been knoun to Ix 1 almost overpowering. * About the only thine; the car owner ever needs to do to the average ignition coil is to see that the terminals are kept tight. This is the first thing to suspect m the event of foil trouble. Dusty glass increases the glare "I approaching headlights, and lor this reason the windshield should be wiped clean—inside and out —if a drive at night is planned. Water level .should be at least onefourth inch above the plates of a storage battery at, all times. Few owners realise the detrimental effects often caused by excessively racing the engine; particularly if the engine is cold. Don't allow another person to drive your car unless you know he has a license to drive. Have the tyre repaired as soon as possible after a change is made. The ''spare" may he needed when far away from any garage. i

Difficult steering may bo traced to various sources. The principal/ ones are worm or cam adjustment tco tight, iack of lubrication, wheels out of alignment or wobbling, or tyres not properly inflated. If tiie brakes chatter, try lubricating'all control rods and clevises. The trouble may be due to rusty parts which do not pet mi t perfect application of the band to the brake drum. Jean Borotra, the French tennis star, has joined the Board of a new British company to develop the manufacture of petrol pumps in Great Britain.' He will presumably now give excellent services in another direction. The German motor industry exported 8000 cars last vear compared with 4000 in 1930. For his 1932 racing programme Ettore Bugatti is building a series of fourwheel drive cars, which will have 14,000 c.c. engines and three-speed units. The series will be limited to 25 cars. Three of these cars have been ordered by the ex-King of Spain, a famous German surgeon, and M. Andre Citroen.

According to a review taken by many ot the leading insurance companies in England, doctors have been proved to be the worst risk, both for minor and heavy claims. Women .on the other hand, rank among the best in heavy claims, though their claims for trivia] damages are extraordinarily high. Vienna inotor-cychsts have formed a touring club, one of the chief objects of which is to assist foreign riders visiting Austria. The club, which is willing to send any required information, is known as the "Eiuopa-Motor-Tourist," and has headquarters at Vienna.

DRIVING LICENSES. MANY STILL TO BE ISSUED. Large queues cf applicants were issued with driving licenses yesterday by the City Traffic Department, and for the convenience of those who bad sent in application forms. together with the necessary ice of sa, and who •had been unable to attend for the purof collecting their licenses in. the daytime, the oiliee was opened last night from 6 to 9 o'clock. The Chief Traffic inspector (Mr H. Macintosh) states that by June Ist last vear about 6'X'O driving licenses had been issued, whereas up to ycs.crdav about 5580 had I-eon paid for. Altogether, about 11.000 licenses are issued per annum by the Department. The rush of applicants for new nuiiibci plates at the Chief Post Office lias ended, and it is now possible to be accommodated in this respect with lit tie delay.

SOUTH ISLAND MOTOR UNION. QUARTERLY MEETING. REMITS FOR CONSIDERATION. The following remits are to be dealt with at the quarterly meeting of delegates to the South Island, Motor Union which is to be held on June 24th in the Borough Council Chambers, Waimate:— South Canterbury Automobile Association: That where bridges are narrower than the roadway some distinctive sign for the bridges at night should be adopted. .Southland Motor Association: That it be suggested to motor associations that unanimity be exercised in the erection of reflecting lenses on the approaches io bridges, etc., and that the red lens be phiced on the left, and the white lens mi the right, approaching. Off-side Rule. Canterbury Automobile Association: That endeavours be made to have the law amended so that the rider of a bicycle. and the drivers of vehicles either than motor vehicles, be compelled to observe the off side rule at intersections. ■South Canterbury Automobile Association: That the question be discussed in regard to seeing what steps should lie taken to have the regulations enter'ed in regard'to headlight danger. Otago Motor Club: That we stress the urgent necessity for the construction of tlwj new bridge over tlie Clutha river at Ba Iclutha. Otago Motor Club: That wo protest against the red reflector being placed on the right-hand side of bridges, and the white on the left these to be reversed. Otago Motor Club: That the McXab section of the main highway between iJtinedin and Invercargill being repeatedly impassable on account of flooding, we urge the necessity of having this road raised above the flood level. Otago Motor Club: That the necessary steps be taken to make it compulsory for cyclists to have the rear mudguard painted white. Third Party Risk. Otago Motor Club: That the attention of the appropriate Cabinet Minister be invited to a judgment of Sir Michael Myers, Chief Justice, in Findlater v. the Public Trustee and the Queensland Insurance Company, where •it was held that when a motorist who by his negligence liatl brought about a collision between two vehicles was killed, other persons injured by such collision were not entitled s to recover damages against him or against; the insurance company nominated by him under the provisions of the Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act. 1028, and that, the .Minister be urged to introduce legislation amending the law in this respect. Other business will include a report bv the Executive Committee concerning the inspection of official hotels and a report from Mr F. W. Johnston regarding the faking of evidence on commission. ; CHEAP TRAVEL. MOTOR MOKE ECONOMICAL THAN RAILWAY. . - ! -Motoring is the cheapest form >jf travel on wheels—unless you are eontent' with a bicycle or a donkey cart. This statement I know will be challenged, writes Sir Malcolm Campbell in the "Austin Magazine." But consider its implications. If you travel by train you are tied to a time-table, an arbitrary schedule which in nine cases out of ten does not fit in with your own arrangements. Therefore you lose time—and time is money.

Second, if you want to take luggage and travel to the'station in comfort, you will take a taxi. -More money—sixpence a mile r . another sixpence for extra luggnSc'j plus a tip for the driver. After that there is a tip for the porter. And at the other end there is another porter, another taxi-driver,,and another string of tips. If you want comfort you must go firstclass—and first-class railway travel is considerably mure expensive per mile than tlie first class road travel offered you by any good British standard car of moderate price. My argument so far is based upon the costs for one person only. But consider how much more oUvious, how much more valuable, and how much more economical it becomes when you multiply these single figures by two, three, four, live, or six, according to the number of the family which we will assume has to be transported for its holidays.

Capital Cost. It may be argued that against this, one must offset the capital cost of buying a motor-car. But surely, in these days, it cannot possibly be argued that motoring is any longer either a luxury or an expense. It has become a necessity. It has followed the same path of evolution by which such things as railways, steamships, the penny post, electric light, and almost any other modern amenity which you like to name have been gradually developed until they are no longer the privileges of the rich but the everyday servants of mankind. We have passed the day when motoring, considered broadly, is any longer either a luxury or an expense. True, it can, like anything else, be made as expensive as you wish. But equally, it can be indulged in as economically as any reasonable person can desire. The purchase of a motor-car, there- | fore, can no longer be regarded as an extravagance. It is, in the best sense of the word, an economy. For the man with a family it means not only a saving in train fares, but a direct purchasing agent of good health and enjoyment. Man was meant to be a creature of the open air. The only medium which will bring the open air to his door cheaply, quickly, safely, r.nd comfortably is the motor-car. A common cause of leaks in the water system in the region of the pump is the i.se of too light a grease in the grease cups on the pump bearings. The grease softens undev (he tieat of the engine and lets the water work its way out through the grease and drip from the cup tap. Use the right grade of grease for the season. In warm weather the hardest cup grease will not be too stiff, but in colder weather lighter grease rhould bo used. When water drips from ,he nut that holds the packing on the shaft, tighten the nut till the dripping stops. If it does not stop, a new packing is required. If proper packing is not obtainable, strands of lamp-wick heavily greased and closely packed into the recess in the packing nut will be fojiud to answer the purpose well.