AUTOMOBILE UNION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3143, 28 July 1917, Page 12

AUTOMOBILE UNION

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Automobile Union was held in the Accountants' Chambers yesterday. !>| ri P. S. Al'Lcan. president, occupied the chair. The report of the lixecntivo Committee, as already published, was adopted. . The president said that legislation which would otherwise havo been in . force several^ years ago was, owing to (bo war, still blocked. fn every centre in the Dominion .the question of by-lavs was. one of the most important raised. A uniform system of by-laws was advocated, eespecialiy in regard to speed, registration, and the licensing of drivers. On consultation with the .SolicitorGeneral. the Minister of Internal Affairs had found that payment, of licenses could not. be enforced by regulation, and lie intended to bring down legislation this year to make the necessary provision. Mr. Russell had intimated that the chatters of uniform by-laws and the registration of cars would also be taken in hand. The Minister was anxious 'o increase the number of registering authorities, bill the speaker thought that it was advisable to reduce them. and have or-ly counties as the. registering authorities, except in the case of taxis, which would come under the jurisdiction of the local authorities. It was decided I hat private cars should bear plain number marks in black and white, of uniform size, both back and front. The back number should be fixed where it would be plainly visible during the day, and should be illuminated at night. The Minister of Internal Affairs attended the conference-at this stage, and ex-, plained that at present it would be nilpossible to introduce any .neiv 'cgisl-i.ion I of a general character, esneeially if it involved taxation. lie proposed, however, to deal with one or two matters by regulation, inclining regisfontion, licensing, and lighting. It was decided not to take any definite action in regard .to glaring head-lights, it. being a matter move for expirts concerned ill the manufactures. The most that could ho done was to recommend a' resuilation as to range and diffusion. The conference resolved that drivers of all-motor vehicles should be licensed, and that recommendation should bo made lo' the Minister for an improved system of registering ears, throwing on vendo's the responsibility of recording transfers. Mr. M'l.oan was re-elected president. The vice-presidents appointed were Messrs. G. 13. Bullock and C. M. Banks, the former of whom was also eiected chairman of the Executive Committee. All Iho other office-bearers were reflected. ________