MOTORISTS CONFER

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 February 1940, Page 4

MOTORISTS CONFER

MEETING OF GREY BRANCH. The monthly meeting o£ the Grey branch of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) held last evening, was attended by Mr. P. C. Heaphy (chairman), Dr. W. McKay, Captains F. N. Whitmore and E. D. Iles, and Messrs E. McDonnell, M. J. Fogarty, A. J. Fairmaid, T. Jacobs, A Glen, J. Smith, B. W. Caulton, W. P. Hambleton, W. F. Harley (secretary), and J. Chapman (patrol officer). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs S. B. Quintrell, J. Higgins, G. R. Harker and J. G. Quinn. With reference to the request mace by. Messrs Kennedy Bros, Totara Flat, to the Grey County Council to pass a by-law compelling people to close the gate on the road on their property, between Craigieburn and Rough River, Mr. Heaphy said that, while he was sure every decent motorist would close the gate, he was opposed to such a liability being placed on motorists.

Dr. McKay: Can the Council impose a penalty if the gate is not closed ? Mr. Heaphy: Not at present, but if the necessary by-law were passed they could do so.

Dr. McKay: Was that the case on the old Christchurch road?

Mr. Harley: Yes, the penalty for not closing gates was as much as £lO. Captain Whitmore said that Mr. Higgins (the County Engineer) had told him that the Council had not the right to' put gates across a road and require them by law to be closed. Mr. Heaphy said that perhaps the road was on the private property of Kennedy Bros.

Mr. Fogarty: Would not cattle stops meet the case?

Mr. Heaphy: They are too dear, Mr. Heaphy moved that they should write to the County Engineer protesting against the passing of a by-law as requested by Kennedy Bros. Dr. McKay said the County Council was bound, in accordance with their agreement with Kennedy Bros, to see that the gate was closed. Otherwise the gate would not be of much use. Mr. Caulton asked that, seeing the road was not fenced, what was the liability of a motorist who ran into and killed stock on the road. Mr. Heaphy: I can’t advise you p» that. It is a legal question. The motion was earned. The District Railways Engineer wrote stating that he had given instructions that the access road to Rotomanu station should be extended une and a-half chains to the west of the shelter shed. The road would fie 25 feet in width, and this, he thought, should provide enough parking space for cars.

Captain Whitmore said he thought that the improvement would be much appreciated in the district. The Buller Branch wrote asking the Grey branch to support it in its endeavours to get a uniform price for petrol throughout the Dominion. Mr. Harley said he had replied that the Grey, branch had brought this matter up two years ago, and it was also fully discussed by the South Island Motor Union, but it was felt that it could not be arranged on a satisfactory basis.

Mr. Heaphy said that a uniform price -would be desirable from thqir point of view, but he did not know whether they could do much in the matter, .

Mr. Harley: Mr. Sullivan said that the proposal was impracticable. Mr. Heaphy: The matter will be discussed by the Canterbury Association. The proposal was sent to the S.I.M.U. by the Buller branch in mistake. It should have been first sent to the Canterbury Association. Our representative on the Canterbury Association can express our views on -the matter The Canterbury Association wrote asking whether the Grey Branch had any objection to the Westport branch changing its name to the Buller branch.

Mr. Harley said he had replied that the Grey branch had no objection.

CONDITION OF ROADS

Reporting on the condition of the roads in the district, Mr. Heaphy said that, despite the recent bad weather, most of the roads were in quite fair order. The Public Works Department had a big scheme under way for widening and straightening the narrow portion of road, between Kiwi and Stillwater, and he thought that this would be made a good job when the time was opportune. The road as far as Ikamatua was in good order, except at Pothen Hill. The road on one side of the hill was badly cut up by the holiday traffic and since then tar sealing had been delayed by bad weather. The road down the other side of the hill was dangerous and narrow. Something was being done to improve this, but as soon as the bridge that was being constructed lower down was ready, this narrow portion of road would be cut out. Public Works Department surveyors were busy laying out the new approach to the Big Grey River bridge, which was going to be a decided improvement. During the Christmas holidays complaints had been received about the condition of the ramp approach at South Beach, and representations had been made to get the roadmen to do something to fill in the pot holes. The approach to Cobden Hill was in bad order, and he thought that representations should be made to the County Council on the matter. The question of Snowy Creek had been before them on several occasions. The Public Works Department had advised that certain suggestions had been made, and plans prepared, and the whole matter referred to the Inangahua County Council, the Department hoped to get on with the work, and he hoped that this would give satisfaction to their members at Alexander. Mr. Smith asked whether anything had been done with regard to timbering the bridge on the road to Blaketown up to the level of the railway lines.

Mr. Harley: We were turned down flat on that. > '

Mr. Smith said that the road at the entrance to Runanga was breaking up again. x

Mr. Harley: The County Council spent £3OO on draining that particular part, and it was hoped that that would put the matter right. Mr. Smith: It is getting as bad as Cobden Hill.

It was decided that'the secretary interview the County Engineer in regard to the matter. Mr. Caulton said there was a big drop off the tar sealing at the second bridge-at Kaimaka. Mr. Harley: The contractor has not finished with that job. ‘ Mr. Heaphy: I noticed that they were patching up holes all along that road. TELEPHONE WANTED. : f - Mr. Harley ’said that although a telephone line, between Manila and the

hostel, passed by a newly constructed store at Springs Junction, there was no telephone in the store, and in his opinion one was badly needed. Last month, an accident occurred there, and a doctor was required, but to reach a telephone the people concerned had to go either ten miles back to the hostel or nine miles to Maruia. He thought they should approach the post office authorities to have a telephone bureau established in the store. Mr Harley said that a telephone at the store would be useful in the event of the road being blocked by snow. The store was near a difficult part.qf the road, where accidents were liable to occur. Mr Fairmaid said that it was possible that the telephone line was private. It was decided, on the motion of Dr. McKay, that the secretary should interview the Chief Postmaster, Greymouth, in regard to the matter.