MOTORISTS CONFER

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1939, Page 12

MOTORISTS CONFER

GREY BRANCH MEETING The monthly meeting of the executive of the Grey Branch of the Automobile Association (Canterbury), beld last evening, was attended by Messrs. P. C. Heaphy (chairman), .1. G. Quinn, t" Jacobs. M. J- Fogarty, E. McDonnell. S. Quintrell. J- Smith. A. Glen, Captains F. N. Whitmore and E. D. Iles. Dr. W. McKay and Mr. W. F. Harley (secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. G. H, Chapman. A. J. Fairmaid, B. W. Caulton and J. B. Discaciati. It was reported that, at a recent meeting of the Westport branch, a suggestion bad been made that a meeting should be held between members of the Westport and Grey branches on some suitable Sunday, at Punakaiki. It was decided to write to the Westport branch approving of the suggestion, and asking whether Westport wished to discuss any particular matters at the meeting. Mr. Heaphy, reporting in connection with the Emergency Evacuation Scheme, said it had been decided to ask the assistance of the schools in delivering the circulars, calling for the information that would be necessary in the event of an emergency. The circulars were now being prepared, and, when the information was obtained, the question of the number of cars that would be required would be referred directly to the Automobile Association, and it would then be for members to do what they could.

The Westland Branch of the Association wrote asking - what, steps the Grey Branch was taking to assist in the event of an emergency.

Mr. Harley said he had replied giving particulars regarding organisation, the division of a borough into zones with a committee in control of each, the collection of information as to the number of adults and children in each zone, and the number of cars available.

The Automobile Association (Canterbury) wrote stating that it had decided that any of its members who enlisted should be made honorary members, until they were discharged. Mr. Harley stated that he had written to headquarters in Christchurch pointing out the necessity for corduroying the ford at Broad Creek, near Bealey. on the Otira-Christchurch road. Mr. Harley said that, cars were frequently stuck in this ford, and a person living in the vicinity made an exorbitant charge for pulling them out.

Mr. Heaphy said that the charge was £1 to tow a car out of the ford. A Greymouth resident, who had occasion to go to Christchurch, recently, on urgent business and was stuck in the ford, was very indignant at the charge made.

Dr. McKay said that it seemed to be a case of the higher the altitude the higher the charge. There used to be a man at Arthur’s Pass who “bled” motorists in this respect.

Mr. Heaphy: It was a perfect science there.

Mr. Harley said that he. thought Christchurch should take up the matter. and try to get the Public Works Department to do something to improve the ford. PORORARI CAMPING GROUND Mr. Harley reported that he had received . a letter from the Punakaiki Domains Board signed by P. Bridges, secretary, and A. M. Ross, chairman, objecting to the statements he had made at the last meeting of the Branch, regarding the state’ of the camping ground at Pororari. The letter said that the Board had no record of any agreement betwen it and the Grey Branch regarding the ground, and asking if the Branch had any such agreement in its possession. The letter added that all money obtained from the camping ground had been spent for the improvement of the ground. Mr. Harley said that, in April, 1935, the Board approached the Branch with a proposal to establish the camping ground. However, the Board had no money, and asked the Branch to assist them by fencing the ground and in other ways. AftV inspecting the ground with members of the Camping Committee from Christ-, church, they agreed to help the Board by fencing the ground and putting in certain conveniences, provided the Automobile Association was given a 10-years’ lease of the ground. The Board, on their part, had agreed to improve and beautify the ground, but four years had passed and he did not think anyone could see any beautifying beyond the planting of a few flax bushes round the edge of the ground. The Board had not played their part, and, as the Branch had received many complaints about the state of the ground, they had decided to end the matter by taking down the A.A. board at the ground. The Board had previously leased all the land to another party, but he had been prepared to give back part of the ground for camping. The Branch had gone to the trouble and expense of getting a proper lease prepared, and they paid a peppercorn rental of 1/- a year to make it legal. “I did not reply to the letter because I did not think it worth while.” Mr. Harley added. • Mr. Fogarty: Then there is no camping ground there now? Mr. Harley: There is still a camping prround because we have a lease for the balance of the 10 years. But our notice board lias been taken down, since any complaints about conditions at the ground were coming to us.

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. Mr. McDonnell asked whether anything was being done about the deviation of tlie Barrytown Road, at the stretch where it was being eroded by the sea. Mr. Harley said he understood that tenders had been called and were (dosing that day. Dr. McKay: Where are they going to begin the deviation at the southern end? I heard it was to be at Fagin’s Creek. Air. Harley said he had not heard any particulars. A contractor had merely told him that he was tendering. Dr. McKay; [f they put it near Fagin’s Creek there will be a possible chance of erosion at the southern end. Mr. Heaphy: J should think they would make a desperate attempt to keep out of trouble this time. The road is in wry had order at Hie present time. ( Mr. Smith asked whether anything ■

was going to be done to improve the horseshoe bend at the Seven Mile.

Mr. Harley said that a certain amount of money had been put on the Estimates for this work, and it might be done this Summer. Mr. Heaphy said that the delay was probably due to the fact that the County Council was . hard up. - Mr. Smith said that the road to Runanga between the monument and the Domain was beginning to break up again. The ground in this part was very spongy, and. at present, drains were being put in along the side of the road.

It. was decided to call the attention of the County Council to the matter. Mr. Harley said that the tar sealingon the Kumara straight was in bad order.

Mr. McDonnell: It is all right again now.

Harley: Three weeks ago, when [ was over it. it did not look like the Kumara straight. It must have been fixed up since. Mr. Smith said that the stretch of road between Stewart’s overhead bridge and Cobden bridge was badly corrugated. This piece of road was being constantly repaired, and, recently, metal was spread on it, but it was as bad as ever again.

Mr. Heaphy said that it seemed a pity that this small stretch of road should hot be tar sealed. A member of the Association had recently had a smash on this stretch, involving damage amounting to £6O, and he had attributed the accident to the roughness of the road: • It was decided to make enquiries into the matter, doubt being expressed as to whether the Borough, the County or the Public "Works Department was responsible for this section of road.

Mr. McDonnell said that timber stacked at'the sawmill, oil the road at South Beach, was'a possible source of danger to traffic. Mr. Heaphy said that there was a side road at this spot about which he had been uriawai-6 until his attention -was callbd to it by an accident, between a car, proceeding at qiiite a reasonable speed to Hokitika, and a car which came out of the side road. The stacks of timber wfere too close to the road, and it was impossible to see anything coming between them. Mr.’ Harley said that the timber which was "stacked on the road’ reserve spoilt the visibility, and. with road traffic increasing, this was a growing source of danger. Dr. McKay said that good visibility was al'so necessary' because of the tramway coming out of the sawmill. It was decided to’ take up the matter with the Public Works Department.

PETROL RESTRICTIONS Some discussion took place on the petrol restrictions and the extra allowance for holiday travel. Mr. Harley said he had made enquiries at the Post Office and was told that the extra allowance was to be granted immediately and until the beginning of December. This seemed like putting the cart before the horse. He had thought the intention was to grant the extra allowance from December 1. Mr. Smith said he understood the restrictions might be withdrawn altogether to cover the holiday period.’ Mr. Heapliy said there seemed to be good supplies of petrol in New Zealand. and " possibly the restrictions would be gradually relaxed. He hhd not hedrd of anyone locally being refused necessary, petrol. He 1 thought the local Post Office officials were ’to be congratulated on the way they had handled this job.' They had shown great consideration, and had invited the co-operation, and had accepted the suggestions, of motorists. The Postmaster had dealt very sympathetically in this matter, with a complete absence of red tape.