AUTOMOBILE ASSN.

Grey River Argus, 1 May 1931, Page 7

AUTOMOBILE ASSN.

Greymouth Branch Meeting

The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Brancni of the. Canterbury Automobile Association was held last evening. Present: Dr. W. McKay (President), Messrs E. McDonnell, P. Hambleton, G. R. Harker, A. J. Fairmaid, J. M. Bunt, Inspector A. J. Slos« and the Secretary, Mr W. F. Harley. The Primo .Minister) Hon. G. W. Forbes, wrote stating that the Main Highways Board dealt with matters such as the bridging of the Waimakariri River, and that at present he did not think it possible to have- the work ca ruled out in any case. The Chairman said that a s far as the Gov- . rrnment were they were throwing it back on to the' Main High-1 ways Board again. The one little gap j spoiled the only east-fo-west main highway route. Whilst waiting fori the. work to bo done by either the Main Highway Board or the 1 Government they were splitting hairs about it. and there w&s ample unemployed who could eayry out the work. It would be a fine idea to have only a ‘■nilway route if there werle no road, but this road was a good one and should be completed by the bridging; of the Waimakariri. The time was now opportune to carry ouf. the work I with the unemployed. Mr Bunt suggested writing to rhe motorists’ representative on the Main Highways Board. Tf was decided to write to Mr Wynvftrd, motorists’ representative on the Highways. Board, asking his opinion as to what could be* done mi the maty tei*. Mr A. Blocksage wrote complaining of the state of the road from Boundary Street to Preston Road, which, he I stated, was ful? of pot holes. He. also complained that the l railway crossing in Herbert Strleet leading into Boundary Street was in a bad state. Mr Fairmaid said the pot holes tn Preston Road had been attended t". but the far away railway crossing in Proton Hoad was bad. The Secretary said the siding into the foundiy was very bumpy. It was decided to wife thanking Mrt Blocksago for bringing up the matters. and stating they were being attended to. [ It was decided to write to the Runanga Borough Council, asking that visibility be .improved on the bad turn: approaching the 1 railway crossing entering on to the Seven Mile. Road straight . The. Chairman said that in a. case wheile an accident happened, any occupants of a car who wore hurt should report it to the police. Tn one- case, a person who had been concerned in an accident had reported to Inspector Sloss, but had been convicted in the Court bv the polic - *', for not notifying them. This man had been quite filank about the accident and had reporter! if. The Act strictly stated that acI cident'S, where persons were injured must be reported to the police. The Secretary considered that iv was most unjust that the young man concerned should have been convicted when he had notified Hie Traffic Inspector, who had rung up the Police and notified them of the accident. j Th-.* police, in Court had admitted that Inspector Sloss had notified them of the accident. ! Inspector Sloss r/’id there was no--1 thing laid down by hi s employers, jnamelv, local bodies, that he should ■go out( to accidents. If the police were concerned in accidents of a soitious nature, he was not supposed to have anything to do with them. The Secretary said that -n Chrlsti church it was not necessary in the I case of renew alls of licenses to have a driver’s eyesight and hearing testefl, unless so directed by an Inspector. Inspector Sloss head regulations, which clearly out in cd that in the case of applicants for licenses, tests ?s to ability, sight and hearing had to be made. The President said that th? word applicant in the regulations would more than likely concern those* applying for lieense s in the first instance. The Chairman said a lot of good, wonk had been done by th? As so ci a-1 tion :n writing to reckless and intoxicated motorists advising them of their menace to public, safety. M'- Harker said that he- hail S'‘Pn a.I motorist that night with only one' light. It wa s a dangerous practice-. He had thought it was a motor cycle. Inspector Sloss said that :t was a dar.gerious practice, and if any eases came under his notice, he would pro- , secut e. The Chairman said that in some*! cases the light went out without the ! knowledge of the motorist. It was, j however, a dangerous practice. /J Mr Hambleton said that Puketnhi! and Alexander Streets were cut very close by motoil’sts and required domes to direct them. It was decided to| bring the matter under the notice of the Borough Council. It was decided to interview Mr O ’Brien, M . P., regarding the K nnara Junction-Flowery Cneek-Awatuna road. 1 which the Government had promised to have completed. Inspector Sloss said that ttree motorists had endeavoured to get into' Victoria Park (-amping grounds on a race day, a,nd because they were not allowed in, had complained bitterly. The' Chairman said that, motorists were treated very well with, regard to using the ground. Mr Harker said the races were run only on 3 days out of the 363 in the l year, and there was little com.pl arm to be made over not being allowed to use the grounds on any of these three days. The Secretary said that the returns for the camping grounds had been very satisfactory during the past camping se’ason, over £26 being re al is • j cd, and thiis was good indeed, consider-1 ing the bad weather experienced.