"MOTORISTS UNITE!”

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 157, 21 March 1923, Page 8

"MOTORISTS UNITE!”

CLUB ADOPTS NEW POLICY BIG PROGRAMME AHEAD I ■ MANY NEW BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS That Wellington motorists are standing in their own light in not getting solidly behind their organisation is the opinion of the committee of the Wellington Automobile Club. Tiie club is now conducting an active membership campaign, which is already receiving solid support, and at a special meeting yesterday tho membership and publicity sub-committee brought down a comprehensive report for a wide extension of the club’s activities, lhe proposals were generally approved by tho committee, and a considerable number were approved for adoption forth- " “Although the club has progressed with an increase from 224 members in 1919, to about 550 at present,” states the membership committee's report, “it still lags far behind .Auckland and Canterbury with about 1000 and 2000 members respectively. The club through lack of support by Wellington motorists, is restricted in its activities, and motorists must continue to suffer with needlessly bad roads,' ineffective traffic regulation and other disabilities so long as they neglect to get behind their organisation and make their weight felt in matters affecting their interests. This neglect, it should be pointed out, means higher running costs and greater liability to accident for the individual motorists. In addition a comparatively weak motor club is unable to provide its members w :+ h conveniences such as a club room. monthly road reports, and reference library, free legal advice, etc., such a? can be enjoyed with better organisation. Our membership should be brought no to 2(V'O Wnr« thp end of the year, and with this end in view an officer has been appointed to interview all non-members.” The membership committee’s recommenda-

tions and the action taken upon them are as follow:—

Club Room The first requirement, says the report, is a proper home for the club, such as nearly every other motor association of any standing has. Canterbury, in fact, owns its own building. The sub-committce recommends that a club room be rented forthwith, and thp nucleus of a reference library provided, together with a supply of the leading motor journals. As no maps have yet been published, showing .the formed and metalled roads of the Dominion as distinct from the “paper” /oads, the sub-committee recommends/that arrangements! should be made, if possible, to have a set of large scale maps compiled from those in the Public Works Office and made available for reference in the club room, and that , these maps should be revised periodic- ' ally, showing br different colourings, the formed, metalled and tarred roads. I The sub-committee believes that this i would be invaluable for reference purposes to motorists contemplating tours in unfamiliar districts, and feels that the cost would be fully justified.—These proposals wore approved, and the secretary requested to report to next meeting as to a suitable club room, and tho sub-committee to bring down particulars as to tho proposed road maps. Signposts and R?ad Reports. The report pointed out that there was room for a great extension of this work., and urged the erect-on of substantial signs at all important road junctions in the district.; also that signs should be placed on all bridges giving the name of the river.—The proposal was adopted, and the Roads Committee, asked to bring down a full report as to direction and bridge signs in the club’s district. A ■ suggestion that information as to the state of all main roads should be collected once a month and given out to the Press was adopted, and it was resolved that an offer made to supply newspaper clippings on matters of importance to motorists appearing in the Press bo accepted. Picnic Crouncs. t In view of the large number of Motorists picnicing in the country at week-ends it is felt, states the committee’s report, that the provision wi’l shortly have to be made for proper picnic grounds and parking places at? favourite spots, as is done in the United States. The commitJtde recommends that negotiations should be opened up without delay for at least one such ground, which, of course, would be reserved exclusively for the club members, and provided with brick fire-places, etc. If the experiment proved a success, further grounds could be secured in other localities. A move in this matter would tend to develop the social side of the club by bringing members together at a common rendezvous, and later lead to the opening-up ov summer camps at beauty spots off the main roads, and not at present accessible. —The Membership Committee - was requested to open up negotiations us suggested. Outings for Children and Old People. “This work,” states the report, “has been allotted to the membership subcommittee ; but it requires to be delegated to a special committee set up for this purpose alone." By concerted action, and at a very sniall sacrifice by each, motorists can bring red-letter days into the monotonous round of life of children, old people, etc., in institutions. Such runs are a great feature with many other organisations. We recommend that a special sub-committee be set up, including, if passible, a number of ladies. 'lf each member would give his car for only one outing a year the club at this small sacrifice could arrange for outings on a 2000 membership for about 7000 persons in the course of a year.” —lt was resolved to set up a special sub-committee -from the general club membership for this work. Social Gatherings and Contests. Following further recommendations in the report, it was resolved that arrangements be made during the winter for a social gathering, with light refreshments and short addresses, if possible with lantern views on topics of interest, such as the arterial roads .scheme; and that the Motor. Traders’ Association be invited to co-operate in holding a reliability trial during the winter. Frsa Legal Advice. An important new departure was tho adoption of a proposal in tho report that henceforth tho club provide free legal advice for its members. As the chib is not in a financial position to do this indiscriminately, it was resolved that members requiring legal advice must first apply to the secretary, who will refer them as necessary to the club’s solicitor for advice at the club’s expense. The report pointed out, on the matter of insurance, that the Royal Automobile Club of Australia has a special

Lloyds insurance policy for its members which gives unlimited third party cover, accepts liability for damage to tires and lamps, and also covers small damage not exceeding £s.—-The secretary was requested to ibtain informaition from the R.A.C. of Australia as to its experience with this policy. In view of the extra work that will be en.ailed on the secretary by the club’s new programme, the committee made an increase in his salary. On the motion of tho president, Mr. C. M. Banks, the members 'of the Membership and Publicity Sub-commit-tee (Messrs. B. L. Donne, A. N. Field, and F. Goldberg) were thanked for their report.