ALL ROAD USERS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 3

ALL ROAD USERS

FEDERATION PROPOSAL

A pica put to the motorists' conference last week by Mr. L. A. Edwards for a federation of all motorists' unions and road users met with rather a chilly response from the North and South Island Motor Unions. Mr. Edwards-stressed, the danger to motorists' rights arising from the economic state of the country, and suggested that a combined force of 500,000 voters -would help to secure immunity from the more pressing injustices. Mr. I'\ W. Johnston said that at iirst ho had been impressed with the possibilities of a federation of road users, but he was of opinion that by paying a subscription to another body, the unions of both islands would be undermined and left stranded. It seemed to him that all pressing problems.could bo settled by conference. There Would bo a salary of at least £1000 a year to be paid the secretary of such a federation. He thought the objects could be achieved by setting up a committee to act after the conference. The chairman (Mr. O'Callaghan) said that the interests of the proposed components of the federation were entirely different. Most of them were in business for profit, whereas the Unions were out only to give the motorist service. Interests would Inevitably clash. Mr. Boydliouse: "Amateurs and professionals." Mr. Graysou said that the feeling of the Auckland "Union was that to join the federation would be committing suicide. The North Island and South Island unions would apparently have

only one vote each, (whereas all the branches of the trade would have votes. Mr. J. M. Hay (Tnvercargill) said that oil and water would not mix. A federation of the existing organisations would bo good, but the idea of still another body with a 2s Cd subscription, would- not prove workable. The interests of motorists were served by the unions. The proposal found no support.