FACILITIES FOE MOTORISTS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 16

FACILITIES FOE MOTORISTS

WORK OF AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

ADDRESS BY MR G. W.

HUTCHISON

The many benefits gained by memjers, non-members, the community, and the State through the activities of the Automobile Association in New Zealand were mentioned by Mr George W. Hutchison, secretary of the Automobile Association. Auckland, and District Governor-Elect of the New Zealand Rotary movement, in an address at the weekly luncheon of the-Christ-church Rotary Club yesterday. “If a-non-member of the association goes outside the city precincts in a motor-car he must benefit by the work of the association,” said Mr Hutchison. He must use the road signs, travel along better roads, and cross better bridges, benefit through the reduction in the annual licence, and the certificate of fitness fees, which had been brought about by the agitation of the association. The organisation had been instrumental in bringing about the legislation which enabled evidence sent to a clerk of Court to be taken as evidence in a case. “The association fought so hard that the proposed motor vehicles damage bill, which aimed at making a motorist involved in an accident liable for damages, has sunk into oblivion.” said Mr Hutchison.

In addition to the benefits to nonmembers, members obtained many other facilities. There was a wealth of touring information, bad weather advice, service, legal and technical advice, driving tuition, and, in some cases, lost property departments and post-licence tuition available at no cost to members. Above all, there was that feeling of pride in the great road fellowship when a member fastened the association’s badge to his car. _lt had been proved that a motorist with an Automobile Association badge was a more careful driver than other motorists.

Opposition In Early Days “There was a good deal of opposition to the association in its early days in New Zealand,” said Mr Hutchison. Cattle sickness in the North Island had been found to be due to

the dust which was blown off the * roads on to farms. However, with the introduction of tar-sealed roads this had been eliminated. Because of the good reading system an ambulance could travel faster, and a patient suffered considerably less pain through the smooth travelling. The use made by the present Government and the last Government of the valuable information ‘ to be obtained from motoring unions about transport and road problems was mentioned by the speaker. Drafts of legislation had been submitted to the two motor unions, which consulted 'the various associations, and, in some cases, amendments had been suggested by the unions to the Government, with a beneficial effect to the community. Next to the United States, New Zealand had the greatest density of motor vehicles in the world, it being one to five of the population. There were 73,169 motor-vehicle owners in the Dominion, who were members of the association, and with such a large number .advocating better conditions of transport it was most likely they would be obtained. In conclusion, Mr Hutchison said, that if the League of Nations could adopt the system 'used by" the motoring- union in Europe, where frontiers did not exist ’for motorists, it would be much better fox the world. :

He, was accorded a- vote of thanks on the motion of Past District Governor Stanley Foster. ,