MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 256, 23 July 1920, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By "Clutch.") N.Z. Automobile Union. Tho seventh annual meeting of ths Now Zealand Automobile Union was held in tho Dominion Farmers' Institute yesterday, Dr. C. Prendergast Knight presiding. In welcoming the delegates, Dr. Knight said ho rcgrottcd that tho president of tha union (Mr. P. S. M'Lean) had resigned Tiis office, and would not bo presont at tho meeting. Mr. M'Lean had resigned because ho wanted to be froo to advocate his own views regarding motor taxation.

Before consideration of the business was begun, Messrs. A. E. Ansel!, M. Stevenson, and H. Halliday entered the room, and: it was announced that they desired to attend the meeting as representatives of the recently-formed South

island Union. '. . . Mr. W. Stuart Wilson (Wellington) thought that they might bo allowed to attend as representatives of the South Island Union. It was necessary for the motorists of New Zealand to bo united, but for various reasons, Canterbury and Otaso had thought fit to form a union of thoir own. Tho speaker felt quits confident that tho Now Zealand Union ought to work with tho southern' body, and that, sooner or later, they would coma together again as one united organisation. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Anscll 6aid they had come from tho South hoping that .they would bfl able to work in with tho North Island motorists in tho interests of motoring generally.

Mr. A. S. Clirrkron said that along with Mr. C. F. Mo.lfroy.ho was present as a Veprosentative of the Canterbury Automobile Association.

After further discussion it was resolved that the visitors should bo allowed to attend the conference as delegates from the Otago and Canterbury motor associations.

It was decided that tho Minister of, Internal Affairs should, on account of the narrowness of the country roads, ba asked to enforce a regulation prohibiting motor-car owners or drivers loading luggage or goods projecting beyond the run-ning-boards of. their cars. A remit from the Marlborough Automobile Association wbb passed, •urging' that overy driver of a motor-car' should have a certificate of competency before being allowed to drive a car on the public roads.

•Letters were rend from tho Otago Motor Club and the Canterbury Automobile Association, stating that those bodies wished to resign from the union. Mr. W. Stuart Wilson (Wellington) moved that the resignations be accepted. Considerable discustion took place on the motion, during which it was urged that somo means should be devised to bring the South Island Motor Union into closer touch with the New Zealand Auto, mobile Union. It was explained by Mr. Anse'll that the formation of tho new union was not a. result of jealousy between tho North and the South Islands, Mr. M. Stevenson moved an amendment that tho resignations be held over in the meantime, so that the two bodies concerned might consider the matter, and indicate in what way they could assist the New Zealand Union.

•Dr. Knight thought the amendment should bo carried. He said it had come as a great surprise to the executive that tho Otago and Canterbury Associations had resigned, for, as far as was known, there were no matters in dispute between

them and the New Zealand body. The amendment was carried unani.

mously. The report and balance-sheet (details of which have been published in Tub

Dominion) were adopted. On tho proposition of Jlr. f JI. H. Wynvard (Auckland) it was decided that ths fees from affiliated associations should be as follows: Minimum, ,£10; maximum,

,£M. ' The question whether the publication ot the Year Book should be continued was referred to the incoming executive for consideration. Upon the motion of Mr. W. Stuart Wilson (Wellington) it. was resolved:— ''That unlfdrm warning signs, to lis placed at the approaches'to schools, be agreed upon, snd made'general throughout tho Dominion."

A remit from the Wairarapa -Association sugKceting that thp union press for uniformity in the design of sign-pos's,

wnfl also carried. Officers were elected ns follows:—Prcsident. Dr. C. Prendergnst Knight (Wellington) ; .vice-presidents, Messrs. G. Hen. ning (Auckland), C. M. Bunks (Wellington); secretary nnd treasurer, Mr. W< Benuchamp-Platts; executive committee, Dr. C. • Prenderenst Knight, and Messrs. Ivan 'Wilson (Wairarapa), S. S. Dean

(Poverty Bay). H. J. Stott (Wellington), P. S. M'Lean (Napier), W. BeauchampFlatts (Wellington), ■B. L. Donne (Nelson). L. 1?, Partridge (Wellington); auditor. Mr. 0. G. Kember. Motor-car Headlights. An interesting paper on the subject'of motor-car headlights was read by Mr. W. Beauchamp-Platts at yesterdays annual, meeting Of tho New Zealand Automobile Union. Ho said that, considering ihe present position of headlight design, it; might bo better to leave matters alone, and await the development of more scientific and practical knowledge of tho sub* ject. 'While this might appear to bo a sufficient recognition of tho position by those who had technical knowledge, he felt sure It would not in any way satisfy public demand, nor was there, to ha mind, any reason why it 6hould. im question at issue was ono of public in. convenience and safety, aad should be regarded in no other light. He considered, therefore, tha 1 . thoy should reCommend the Government to amend the Lights on Vehicles Act by providing tor an "allowable" beam of light having a certain length, breadth, intensity, height; of uppermost edge of beam above J h»ground, and angle of tilt, and leave tho designers of lamps and lenses to producedevices which would give tho desired result. Further, tho Act should set up a competent testing branch where all such devices should bo tested, and, if approved bo given a certificate to the effect that under the conditions mentioned in 1 the certificate (i.e., candle-power of bulb, focUB, etc) the use of such licensed dovico -would bo regarded as a. sufficient, compliance with tho-statute He had noticed a request to have it made obligatory on motorists, when meeting, to switch down on to their dimmers at once. This ho considered to be a dangerous practice on account of the great contrast in the volume of light and tn« inability of tho eye to quickly readjust itsalf. ' Ho had very little doubt, however, that the suggestion would be withdrawn when it was recognised that (no general adoption of a proper light (at present obtainable only by tho use of "anti-glare" devices) would to away with tho necessity for "dimming' altogether. As regards what were known m spot, lights," thoy wero so very useful that one could not seriously consider their prohibition. They were, however, often very much misused, and must consequently bo subject to fairly strict regulations ns to uso, etc. They must, of course, bo subject to tho same class of "anti-glare" regulation; as that provided for headlights. He considered that tho nee of properly certificated antU dare" devices constituted the only present solution of their difficulties. Mr Benuchamp-Platts was thanked for his paper, nnd it was decided to forward his recommendations to tho Government for favourable consideration. New Motor Journal. Motor transport in all its forms is tho field covered by a new Cliristchurch publication, "The Dominion Motor. lh« publishers are Messrs. Andrews, Baty, and Co., Ltd., whoso New Zealand road books are so woll known .imoug motor, iste The new venture has taken -tho form of an illustrated monthly magazineof Gl pages selling at ninepenco a copy. Twenty-eight pages are devoted' to motor-car nnd motor-cyclo nows, etc., including reports of tho In'ost meeting* of all clubs and associations, and cover, ing much ground of general interest Aviation, with a narrative of the.'flight to Mount Cook, occupies eight pagcs'/isix pages are devoted to power boating, .and the remainder is taken up with miscellaneous matter, in which is a roads section. The publication shoind be a useful one to all motor-users.