AUTOMOBILE CLUB

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 134, 2 March 1922, Page 7

AUTOMOBILE CLUB

COMPLAINTS BI MEMBERS SPEED LIMITS AND BAD ROADS A meeting of the committee of the Wellington Automobile Club was held this week. There were present: Messrs. C. M. Banks (chairman), B. L. Donne, J. J. 'Williamson, W. Mantell, S. G. Nathan, and H. W. Lloyd. The secretary submitted, a report received from the City Council motor inspector with regard to a special patrol of the Hutt Road that had been put on for a week, the club bearing the expense. The committee agreed that it was a most useful and illuminating report, and clearly proved that a, more strict patrol by either the police or traffic inspectors should be observed. In reply to a request from the club, the Hutt County Council wrote stating that they were reconsidering the by-law as to speed limits through Plimmerton, and were in agreement that same should be reduced. It was resolved that the City Council be written to protesting against the speed limit through Kaiwarra (12 miles per hour), and suggesting that the by-law be reconsidered and altered to 15 miles per hour, which would be in conformity with tho Petone by-law affecting the immediate neighbourhood. The secretary reported' that he had secured £lOO worth of Government inscribed stock, and it was decided not to buy any more at present. Correspondence was received from the Wanganui and Eastbourne Borough Councils stating that they were in agreement with the committee in regard to Lights on Vehicle Act. ( Main Highways Bill. The Automobile Union forwarded a copy of a letter sent to the Minister of Public Works with regard to the Main Highways- Bill, in which it was stated' that the union did not view with favour the revenue derived from the motor tax being spent as capital when and where required on road construction and maintenance. It considered that a sounder arrangement would' be to utilise such revenue as interest and sinking fund upon an adequate loan for dealing comprehensively with the main roads of the Dominion. Hie union was well aware that the present time might not be opportune for raising such a loan, and thought it would be more preferable to wait until financial conditions were more favourable, rather than adopt the methods suggested in the BilJ. Ngahauranga Gorge Road. A member of the club wrote with regard to the unsafe condition of the Ngahauranga Gorge Road, the general condition of which was described as deplorable, “it being so bad at a. .point just below the abattoirs that it .is with difficulty that a motor driver can maintain control of his car even at a slow speed, the bumping being so bad it is difficult to keen hold of the steering-wheel of a car.” He also pointed out that just above the City Council’s stone quarry there were three places in which the road had given away and left dangerous holes- He expressed astonishment that a stranger driving a car had not come to grief, as this state of affairs had lasted for months and no attempt had been made by the authorities responsible to make the i;oad safe. In conclusion. he asked: “Must we wait until some unfortunate individual loses his life before the road is nut into proper repair?”— It was decided to send a copy of the letter to the Makara County Council, asking that action be taken. A member wrote complaining of the menace of the overloaded motor-lorrv. and said that ho had personally seen bales of wool fall off lorries in tho Hutt Road. He considered there was a positive danger to the passing motorist owing to the improper roping nf the bales. These lorries often travelled at a high rate of speed, and were badly lighted at night, while tho goods protruding from the vehicles were dangerous to motorists meeting them on narrow roads such as Johnsonville Hill or Tawa Flat. —It was decided to. send a copy of this letter to the Superintendent of Police, asking for information with regard to his jurisdiction in the matter. Thorndon Quay Traffic. A further complaint was received from a member regarding control of the traffic on Thorndon’ Quay, particularly between Davis Street and Thorndon tram sheds. He stated that no rule of the road appeared to be observed. It was not an uncommon sight to se° several lorries, especially those loaded with benzine, going north on the right hand side of the road ami making nq. attempt to get over to tho left or proper side when a vehicle was going south. The writer also referred tn the traffic trouble at Lambton Station. He had counted as manv .as nine trams narked there, and said it was impossible for a driver coming from Thorndon Quay and wishing to traverse Lambton Quay to keep to tho right side of the road, so that he had to pass in front of the Hotel Cecil when a car going north might be disembarking passengers .at that «pot- He staled that it was impossible to observe the rules of tho roml as la'J down bv the council under these conditions. —It was decided to send a conv of the letter to the tramways manager, this being an additional complaint to the protests already lodged with tkt. tramway’ authorities on the subject. The following new members worn elected:- —Messrs. A. H. Symonds, Conrtcnav Place: T. Slm n ov. M"nt, Cottrell ami Co.: F. Goldberg, Customhouse Quay: T. Lotfl", Long and Co., Cuba Street: K- Luke, Featherston Street: A. McFarlane, Good'-ear Tiro Co.; D. J. MhOtiwkP. The Mansions. It was suggested that the committee should endeavour to organise an outing for charitable institutions, particularly children and old people. The secretary was directed to write to the Charitable Aid Board asking for a list of such institutions and tho number of inmates, and then call a special meetin" to consider the matter.

The secretarv reported that bo hod a".ain put officers out to. check tho speed of motorists on the lost race days, and this apparently had a" - ’io proved satisfactory. It was decided to leave tho nmtte.r of appointing officers this duty on future race days to the secretary and President.