MEMBERSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 122, 19 November 1929, Page 11

MEMBERSHIP

AUTOMOBILE CLUB'S TROUBLE

SOME SUGGESTIONS

General regret at the small membership in comparison with registrations of motor-cars was expressed at last night's mooting of the . Automobile Club.

■ Mr. L. A.. Edwards said the roll had been purged, but he would like some explanation of the apparent discrepancy of some £500. He regretted tho small proportion of membership to ro.gistrations,. only .20 per cent., as compared with Taranaki's 40 per cent. The Chairman: "Taranaki' has a large unfinancial membership." Mr. Edwards:' "It seoms we also have-some."

"It is disgusting that we have only ;i membership of 3000," said Mr. R. L. Jones, "and every member should make a vow to .get one additional member each before .next, meeting. I have tried my utmost to get new members, and they say they cannot afford the £1 a year. The reason' why we cannot get members should be ascertained."

Mr. Silvertone also, regretted the paucity of membership. He suggested that-if tlie transfers were smaller, more members would put them on their windshields. Ho could not see past the big one. (Laughter.) Mr. E. Palliser thought membership could be improved if more attention were devoted to the financial status of proposed members. He had seen cars on the road, owners of which could not afford a car, let alone a subscription. They should exercise all care in tho class of members they proposed. It. was difficult, said tho chairman, to build up membership, though he agreed the club was too small. If a man wcro paid a commission to secure members, he would rope everybody and anybody in. Mr. Jones's suggestion was a good one, and if followed would mean 100 per cent, increase. If Wellington had more parochial pride, their organisation would -bo larger! Auckland was an example. He did not take tho remarks of other members as redecting on - the executive. The £1 subscription was easily got back in hotel privileges. Membership was really bound up with tho question of road service. The serviceman was giving excellent results,, but if three or four men were put on, as they should bo to cover tho district's mileage, it could not. be paid for without more members.

Mr. Scott opined that the list of registrations should be available to the club, which might assist in increasing membership.

The chairman said that the club had the same right to knowledge of any particular registration as tho police, but were not allowed to possess a complete copy of all registrations. In reply to Mr. J. Rea, the chairman said that they were paying Ds commission for each new membership. They had paid as high as 10s, but that was too much.

Mr. Miles urged more publicity and canvassing. If it became unnecessary the canvassers could be taken off.

Tho chairman regretted that the policy of the club in allowing the service officer to assist any motorist, whether a member or not, in tho hope that such courtesies would result in the assisted person becoming a member had not bore much fruit. '' Wo cannot cot their £1," ho said. ■.'..-.