OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 19583, 15 June 1927, Page 9

OTAGO MOTOR CLUB

MONTHLY MEETING The members of tho Otago Motol Club held their monthly meeting last evening in the club’s rooms. Sir A. E. Ansell was in the chair. , The Chairman reported that on the Rakaia and Waitaki bridges there were no keepers after 6 p.m. He was of the opinion that the erection of automatic warning signals should he installed. With regard to the Main Highways Boai’d Conference, he was sorry to report that, as far as tackling the South Island roads was concerned, the conference had-been a failure. In one way tho motorists themselves were to blame, because they had refused to put the matter before the county councils. However, he was certain the Otago delegates had succeeded in drawing attention to the need of improvements to the Otago roads. In future these roads should get every consideration. Mr Ansell said he had drawn the attention of Mr F. W. Furkert, Public Works Engineer, to the fog difficulty on Mount Cargill. It had been arranged that Mr J. R. Marks, district engineer,_ should experiment with something in the nature of white posts. Attention had also been drawn to the dangerous bridge at Bushcy Crossing, where the district engineer was arranging for a deviation and a new bridge. Mr F. J. Williams stated that the conference had been very unsatisfactory from tho motorists’ point of view. The feeling in some quarters was that the motorists’ objects were detrimental to tho country’s needs. THE GREEN ISLAND ROAD, With regard to the Green Island road, Mr Ansell said that projects for reconstnicting the road had been under consideration for nearly two years, and the engineers were still fighting over tho sort of road to put down. Mr Marks had fonnerly estimated the cost at £4,500, but after consulting with Air Alexander he decided that a higher type of road should bo laid down, costing £5,200. In the meantime, the estimate had risen to £9,200. Mr Williams and Mr Marks were of the opinion that the amount should be reconsidered, iu oi’der to bring down the £9,200 estimate. They were justified in asking tho Main Highways Board to give a 30s subsidy to every £1 spent on the work. It was quite impossible for Green Island to have its quota increased. If the Highways Board insisted on a higher type of road, then it must give a larger subsidy. Requests had been made by members of the Taieri Club that several dangerous corners should be removed. BRITISH MOTOR DELEGATES. Referring to the visit of the British motor delegates,. Mr Ansell said that this was the chance to put before tho visitors the needs arising from colonial motoring conditions. The visitors would arrive in Dunedin on Sunday, and on Monday they would be shown around the country. On Monday evening they would be entertained at tho Otago Motor Club’s rooms. It would be advisable for owners of British cars to moot and discuss with the delegates the merits of various cars. Every effort should be made to assist the delegates to acquire a knowledge of condition? in Now Zealand, so that they Would have a chance to manufacture suitable cars. The Chamber of Commerce would co-nperato in the meeting. ANDERSON’S BAY BRIDGE. Air H. P. Desmoulins requested that iho City Council be asked to paint both ends and the woodwork at tho approaches to the Anderson’s Bay bridge. If both approaches were painted white it would obviate a great deni of difficulty and even danger as far as bus and other motor traffic were concerned.—lt was decided that the council bo written to about the matter. The Chairman referred to tho effect of headlights on tarred macadamised roads liuuuuex-abfc experiments regarding a special light to do away with the reflection difficulty were engaging the attention of engineers throughout the world. Princes street south, near the Oval, was a dangerous place; and it had been suggested that a sei'ies of white stripes bo drawn across the road in order to show in relief any passing vehicle. RAILWAY CROSSINGS. Air W. Wright moved that a remit he sent to tbo Railway Department to the effect that the department should be consideied the responsible party in the maintaining of crossing signs. Air S. B Macdonald seconded the motion, and after a brief discussion it was carried unanimously. BEACH RACING. Air R. M. Passmore brought up the subject of beach racing. He was of tho opinion that the South Island could and should go one better than Auckland, which was noted for its Murawai Beach. Lately beach races had been field at Riverton, and one authority who had been present at them declared it to bo the finest beach ho had ever raced on. Four Invercargill enthusiasts had come here last Saturday night. As the result of a meeting it bad been decided that v a South Island sports association should be formed to arrange for important race meetings to be held on tho Riverton Beach. As regards finance, it was proposed to spend from £4OO to £SOO in prizes, including a cup valued at £l5O. By the way the matter was being taken up fie anticipated no difficulty. Many sportsmen already had guaranteed £5 each towards the funds. They should try to run the meeting either a fortInight before or after the Murawai event, so that visitors from Australia, who frequently competed at Murawai, could attend the Southland meeting. PROPOSED PETROL TAX. Air Ansell stated that, according to indications received from tho Prime Afini.stcr. there would, in the near future, be a petrol tax imposed on users of roads Whether the new tax was to bo an addition or an alternative to the present tyre tax was not quite clear, but it was evidently intended that more revenue should be produced. He was of the opinion that tho flat tax rate should bo reduced to a nominal fee. The tax would fall more heavily on some shouldci’s than othoi’S, but there was no way of remedying that. There must be no exemptions. Air Macdonald said that dairymen must have good roads to the factories, and therefore they should share in the tax ns well as motorists. The same applied to fishernxen in going to their market. Tho petrol tax was tho fairest method of taxation, and there should be no exemptions whatever. After some discussion it was decided that a remit be forwarded to tho South Island Alotor Union advocating that the present flat rate of £2 should be replaced by a nominal fee.