THE AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22519, 29 September 1938, Page 15

THE AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED WARRANTS OF FITNESS AND DRIVING LICENCES The introduction of legislation providing that warrants of fitness must be held by owners of motor-vehicles before they can obtain driving licences is being considered by the Minister for Transport (the Hon. R. Semple). This was reported to the annual meeting last night of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) by the secretary (Mr J. S. Hawkes), who is a member of the National Road Safety Council.

Reviewing the activities of the association', the president (Mr H. C. Harley) said that the year had been very successful indeed, and the increase in membership during the year had been a record. The membership was now 9445, and he was confident that in the comi-.g year the total would pass 10,000. Very hearty co-operation had been given by the Automobile Associations to the Minister for Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) in making the roads safer, and good work had been done. The construction of bridges over railway lines, he added, had been a welcome improvement. He thought that the association should make representations to the authorities for the construction of a bridge over the Middleton railway crossing.

The annual report and balance-sheet, a summary of which has been published in “The Press,” were adopted. Lighting of Main Roads

The claim that some of the mam roads leading to the city were badly lighted was made by a member, who referred particularly to Papanui road and to Riccarton road. It was explained, in the brief discussion that followed, that roads in cities and boroughs were controlled entirely by .the local authorities, and it was with them that the matter should be discussed* The president remarked that this matter would be considered by the council of the association. Following are the officers for the ensuing year:—Patron, the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C.; president, Mr H. C, Harley; vice-president, Mr C. G. Curtis; immediate past-president. Mr L. M. Wilson; council, Messrs R. Twyneham, W. J. Scott, B. Falck, H. LightbSnd, .L. B. Young, F. W. J. Belton, F. W. Freeman, F. W. Johnston, G. S. Morris, and G. W. Tench.