AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 22954, 11 May 1938, Page 4

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

HEW RULES ADOPTED ft ___ SUBSTANTIAL MEMBERSHIP INCREASE A special meeting of the Automobile Association (Otago) last evening formally adopted the new rules drawn up for the association. The president (Mr P. W. Breen) Was in the chair, and there was an' attendance of about 20 members. The President reviewed the new rules, and first expressed the association’s indebtedness to the sub-commit-tee which had gone into the matter very exhaustively. The association had now launched out on a membership campaign, and the total had grown from 3,200 (of whom 160 were subsequently struck off as unfinancial) in August of last year to 4,430 at the present time, 211 being _ proposed for membership at this meeting. Until the present time the association had had to rely upon those who turned up at the annual meeting to provide for the election of its officers, and the, new rules would ensure that every member would be able to exercise a vote by ballot. It had been clear, especially when the membership total was growing. that only a small percentage was voting. This was not a fair system, especially to country members. Mr Breen added that the appointment of service officers for outside work had been an excellent move, and these men were doing very good work indeed. Another point of importance in the new rules provided that the secretary should call a special general meeting of the association at the request of the: committee or upon a requisition in writing signed by 50 members, this provided a safeguard, so that they

would not have half a dozen members getting together and demanding an unwarranted or unnecessary meeting. Another rule referred to the fact that any expenditure or total liability of more than £250 would not be valid until the resolution empowering it had been confirmed by a postal ballot with a majority of not less than two-thirds of the, members of the association. The new rules were formally adopted, the motion being carried unanimously, the ordinary meeting of the executive then being held. DANGEROUS HEADLIGHTS. lt The present headlight system is a menace to traffic, and we have made application the 'S.I.M.U. to the department for improvements to be effected.” said Mr A. E. Ansell, in presenting the report of the Safety first Committee. ”We think t that the Present regulations are failing m their purpose. A primary point is that it should be made compulsory for lights to be dipped on meeting oncoming traffic. We should urge the Commissioner of Transport to expedite snob improvements. There is another rnenace in cars being parked at the side of the roads with their lights full on. This is prohibited in England, SAFETY-FIRST INSTRUCTION.

Mr J L. Passmore said that much good could be done by the service officers giving short addresses to school •children on safety-first principles (stated the report of a meeting of the Safety-first Committee). It was resolved that it be a -recoinmendation that the Department he approached and asked for its co-operation in this matter, with particular reference to country schools. (It was understood that there was a suggestion that the city schools would receive attention from the city traffic department in this regard in the near future.) It was also a recommendation that the Education Department be asked to institute regular instruction in schools on safety-first principles. The committee believed that a great deal of good could be accomplished by educating the children. “ We can’t get very far in instructing the adults—with Rafferty rules in operation for so long it is hopeless now

to give them instruction,” said Mr Passmore, who also stressed the importance of propaganda and instruction work among ciiildren. Such a campaign originated here, he said, and spread throughout the Dominion., The report was adopted. CITY TRAFFIC. , The Chairman of the Safety-first Committee (Mr A. E. Ansell) reported that he had instructed the secretary to write and compliment the city traffic* department (through the town clerk)) on its propaganda in connection with road safety. He stated that he had • recently found figures which definitely proved tha£ the majority of accidents to pedestrians occurred when, they were not using the marked crossings.' Having this in view, together with tha fact that cyclists in most cases obeyed no traffic rule, it was resolved that it be a recommendation that the .City Council be advised that, in the opinion / of the executive, the present traffic department staff was totally inadequate to deal with existing traffic and that steps should be taken to substantially increase the number of inspectors. “ I have driven in practically all tha important towns in New Zealand,-;; and I don’t think there is any place in the whole country where traffic tides are so ignored as in Dunedin, both by motorists and pedestrians,” added Mr Ansell. The report was adopted. , , CAMPS ON CROWN LANDS. The Gamp Committee reported haring received a letter from - the S.I.M.U. on the ’subject of camping grounds bn land under the control of the Crown, and that it should be recommended to the Government that camps be established on the flat at the head of the Makarora Valley and on the West Coast, where the Haast Pass road would eventually come out, somewhere in the vicinity of Okuru. FINANCE. The Finance Committee report, was presented by Mr J. L. Passmore; who said that they had budgeted for £4,100, and £3,689 had been paid in to date, with three months to go. The committee recommended that £ls bo provided! for the purpose of establishing a stall at the Winter Show to display and distribute safety-first propaganda. The Commissioner of Transport was to be asked for a subsidy. The report was adopted. DANGER SIGN. Mr 6. G. Dunn wrote suggesting that a danger sign should be placed . immediately north of the bridge over the Leith in George street, his letter being referred to the Sign-posting Com- - mittee, with power to act. HOLIDAY TRIAL. On the recommendation .of ‘ th» Sjforts Committee it was decided t.<j hold a trial for cars and motor, cj ■» on June 6. It is to take the forn if a “ secret ” trial, and the conditions and route are to be decided Later." ORPHANS’ OUTING. ~ Arrangements have been made to entertain some 260 orphans at a picture afternoon on May 12.