MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 119, 13 February 1920, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By "Clutch.")

More Members Wanted. The membership campaign of the Wellington Automobile Club is proceeding apace, and at the present time the elub represents some 500 motorists. However, the committee and the secretary. Mr. 11. J. Stott, do not intend to be content until the club's aim to secure an active membership of 1000, has been attained. When Jlr. Stott assumed the secretaryship in 1915 the club possessed fewer than 100 members, but the number was gradually doubled. Within the last two or three years there has been a great increase in the volume of motor traffic in Wellington, and for this reason it was considered (hat the club should bring within its ranks the greatest possiblo /number of motorists, especiallv as tho club was doing so much in their interests. A membership camnaign was consequently inaugurated, nnd the results have justified the efforts put forward. For some time applications for membership camo in very fast, but of late there lias lwen a lull. It is hoped, however, that nil motorists in Wellington and district will realise what is 'being done in their interests by the club, and that tlioso who have not alrendy done 60 will lose no time in making application for membership of the organisation. Educating the Public. With reference to the "safety first" > campaign which the Automobile Club intends to launch at an earlv date, some interesting suggestions are contained in a letter which has been addressed to the ' club by a Wellington motorist, Inter alia, the correspondent remarks: "Instead of the graiulmothcrlv regulation of trying to remove all possible danger by reason of. the increased motor traffic from pedestrians, it should l)e the aim to educate the luiblic' to -protect itself against tho new damrer._ It'seems almost Gjlbertian for. a relatively tin-not place like Wellington.'in comparison with almost any of the large towns in Great Britain, n-hiwe. streets by reason of a much greater traffic aro narrower than ours, to confess to the world that it can only control its traffic by practically abolishing it. Sinco education of the public is the end to.be aimed at, we should try to pet the people to cross the road at right angles, and preferably at definite crossings. As a means to this object, I would suggest that the council be urged _ to; place a .Rood strong ropo along both sides of Willis Street for one month only, about three feet from the ground, "with a break only at the 'Evening Post' crossing (and potential brenks where necessary .for cart entries). Tt would be necessary to appoint two linesmen to look after the two ropes, and nt intervals along the rope of every few yards place signs such as 'Cross Only at the Cvossigns' and .'Cross the Bead at Pighl Angles,' and 'Look Both Ways Before Crossing.' The rope would not prevent people _ from crossing nt any point, but having to 'dnclt' under 'lie rope each time would remind them liint they were not playing the game, and in my opinion it would soon educate the public to realise, whether they cross the road eratically as at present or not, that there is a right ■ and a wrong way to do it, which a great number do not at present know." • Tlie club Gu'ggcsls that certain spaces should be, marked out in the streets on which people should stand when waiting for trams. These areas should be defined by special wood blocks or tiles in the roadway, and it should be compulsory for people waiting for trams to stand within "such creas nnd not, as at- present, all over the road between the pave,mont and tlio tramline. It is contended that the spot where such a marked 6paca V'ould prove beneficial would be on iambion Quay, outside the Midland Hotel. It is also contended by the club that the safety of the. public would be preserved to a very great extent were notices posted at various points in the city indicating at what speed motor-cars might travel there. Pedestrian traffic should also be regulated properly, notices should be. placed . intramcars instructing tlio public, how to alight, and what to do _ • .after-. alighting, In certain .congested n thoroughfares, cuch as Willis and Man- • nors Streets, fixed places should ho marked 'out at' which pedestrians could cross die' roadway,' people walking aeroSß the street at other than these points doing so at their own risk. Although excellent fervice i? performed 'by police on point duty, it is recognised that constables cannot'adequately control all the traffic in the city, and for this.reason it is felt J by the clubs that there is urgent need for the appointment of traffic patrol men, whose duty it would be to see that the City Council's traffic by-laws are strictly observed. Dangerous Molesworth Street. Motorists know only too well 1 ho. risks they incur in passing tlirough Molesworth Street, especially near the corner of Aitkon Street. The street is very narrow, and is rendered more dangerous by the fact that it contains a single l : ne of tramway running close to one side of the thoroughfare. To cross the street when there is much traffic about is a . very hazardous proceeding. The Auto- ! mobile Club'holds lluit if the present tram track were moved toward.* the d middle, of the road, and another line laid down alongside of it, there would be plenty of room on either side of the rails for motor-cars and other vehicles to pass up and down on their correct side of the road. At present it reqnires considerable skill to drive on. the narrow* strip of roadwav between thy kerb .ind the tramline, especially when a, tramcar is proceeding in the same direction as the motor-ear.. Before the doublo lino of tram track was laid in Cuba Street,, that thoroughfare was very dangerous, because all traffic • 'tried to use the wider part of the road. When the second set ot rails was laid down, however, vehicular tiaffic naturally followed the trains, and the street became safer to use. It is claimed that the results would be similar were «i double line of tram rails lflid in Molesworth Street. Speed on the Hutt Road. The City Council by-laws provide that motor vehicle;: way travel along the Hutt Rond at. a *peed of 20 miles per hour, and signposts to that effect stand at certain points. When crossing the wooden bridge near NfTahanraiiga Gorge, however, it is provided that speed must be reduced to 12 miles an hour, but no board has been erected at tho spot to convey this information to motorists. liecentlv, a motorist was summonsed for proceeding over the bridge at a speed of 20 miles, and he whs somewhat indignant seeing that h» was in complete ignorance of the twelve-mile-an-hour regulation. On the matter being brought under the notico of the authorities the prosecution was withdrawn, but it is felt that in justice to motorists a board should be placed adjacent to the bridge, indicating the speed at which cars may travel over tho structuro. The Petone Railway Crossing. Representations were recently made to the Bnilway Department' by tho Wellington Automobile Club, urging that a warning bell should bo erected nt tho l'etone railway grossing, which was considered to be very dangerous. The Department, has leplied that the matter has been noted for consideration when the programme of works that can be . undertaken during Hie coming year is under review. Jottings. Steps aro being taken by the Wellington Automobile Club in ths direction of having tho penalty for "joy riding" increased. A deputation will shortly wait, on tho Minister of Justice about the matter. Tho club at its last meeting resolved to write a. letter of appreciation to Mr. A. B. Mabin for the .services he rendered in prosecuting t'j'o men who -had mado uso of a motor-car without authority. The Wellington .Automobile Cluh illlends to approach the Prime Minister shortly with regard to the serious shortage of benzine. • ■ . Lighting-tin time; To-day, i p.m. Next Priday, G.ol p.m.