A.A. SERVICE AT PICTON

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29010, 26 September 1959, Page 14

A.A. SERVICE AT PICTON

S.I.M.U. Declines Assistance

Automobile Associations in the South Island have declined to find, among them, £2OO to enable the A.A. Marlborough to operate its information and service office on the wharf at Picton throughout the year.

Mr F. W. Parker (Marlborough) said his association had provided the service for about 25 years until rising costs made it beyond the resources of a small organisation. A.A. Canterbury made an annual grant of £75 and then withdrew it to force the issue before other associations. Marlborough therefore decided to provide the service only for the six busy weeks of the holiday season and closed it down at the end of April.

There had since been expressions of concern from users, he said. A survey showed that 155 North Island drivers used the service in one period compared with 20 from the South Island. It would cost about £250 to meet ships the whole year round and, with Marlborough contributing £B5 for the six weeks’ service. about £2OO would be needed from other sources. Picton was a gateway to the South Island and would be more so when the vehicular ferry came into use. Marlborough thought all A.A.’s might help as a contribution to encouraging visitors to the South Island.

To test the feeling of the meeting. Mr Parker moved that South Island associations give £2OO towards the cost of the service for 12 months. Mr J. Walsh (Nelson) said his members were sorry to see the service interrupted, but also doubtful about the demand when the vehicular ferry came into use. The major use of the service by North Island members was also noted. Mr E. R. Casbolt (Canterbury) said his association would reinstate its grant if others would also contribute. Dr. S. J. Thompson, president of the North Island Motor Union, said he thought his associations would also be willing to help a service which benefitted the whole country. Other associations then expressed the following opinions:— Southland: In this kind of service the user should pay all costs. South Canterbury: The user should pay for the fairest allocation of expense. North Otago: If spread over the whole country the cost would be small compared with the goodwill continuation of the service would engender. Otago members were supposed to get information from their home associations. The motion was heavily defeated. MINOR FIRES An armchair was slightly damaged when fire broke out in a sitting room at Karitane Hospital, Cashmere, late yesterday afternoon. Units from the Central and Woolston Fire Stations were called at 5.23 p.m. A hedge fire on Mr E. J. Le Poidevin's property. 11l Tilford street, Woolston, at 3.31 p.m. was attended by a unit from Woolston.

Went Too Far.— The Portuguese bullfighter. Antonio Dos Santos, was arrested for killing the bull in a fight last night at Lisbon’s Camp Pequeno ring. In Portugal, as opposed to the rules in Spain, matadors must only pretend to kill.—Lisbon, September 25.