MOTOR CYCLING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 August 1924, Page 6

MOTOR CYCLING.

NEW ZEALAND UNION. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. of interests to motor cyclists and the past year’s racing weue discussed at the annual conference of the - Zealand Auto Cycle Union at New 1 Ivmouth yesterday. Mr E. C. Gaisford, president of the union, presided, and the following delegates were present Messrs L. A. Mcßnrdie ana Nl. Johnston (New Plymouth), K P bpedding and G. Beckett (Rotorua), J. h Grant (Maiiavatu), G. L. Marshall (Opotiki) H. B. Burrell and E. Harford (leilding), L. Signal and E. C. Gaisford. president (Rangitikei) C. Hardy and. H. A. Steinert (Otahuliu), -A; yalintine, J. Williams and A \Y. Smith, vice-president (Hamilton), C. A. Hunter and W. H. Heslop (Marlborougii and Nelson), A. Sutton (Nal/f'f '>■ K a ,V. and C. L. Mclntosh (Auckland), \\ . A. Spragg, vice-presi-dent and W. J. Clanngbold (Hawera). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs G. Tortonscn, vic-ei-presi-dent (Palmerston North), and K L* o\y!ei\ treasurer (Marton). Ihe chairman opened the conference by welcoming the visiting delegates and expressing, pleasure at the large repree.itative gathering. While he did not wish to have a hurried finish as at Hamilton last year, he hoped the delegates would keep to the poiut and make their discussions brief The annual report stated:— During the year the Wnirarapa Motor Club, Otahuhu Motor Club ana Hastings Motor Club were granted affiliation to the New Zealand Auto Cycle Lnion. Permits to hold race meetings were issued, and meetings held by the following clubs: —Hawera, Rangitikei, leilding, Manawatu, Napier, Opotiki, Hamilton, Nelson, Auckland, Rotorua (2), Blenheim, New Plymouth, Hastings, Wairarapa and Ot’ahuhu. .

It is with regret that we report that several accidents occurred during the season. At Christchurch J. Brown met with an accident; at Rotorua, O' S. EHniers, S. Whitehead and J. H. Scott; at Rangitikei, J. Sweeney; and at Auckland, Lt. Maugham. Including a payment of £ls to S. Whitehead for the accident that hapnened to him at Hawera in 1923, and'£6 6s to B. F O’Brien at Napier in 1923, the union paid out in hospital and doctors’ expeases and compensation £l4l ss. This year’s riders’ registration fees amounted to £2O 2s Oil, an increase of 10 registered riders, making a total ol 161 riders for the year. Affiliation and subscription fees total £7B 14s. The general account shows a profit oil the year of £2l 8s lid. The sum of £244 1.3 s9d was received from . clubs in benevolent fund levies last year as foll°' vs . : — d P er cent, on prize money £lO5 6s (idand 2) per cent, on receipts £139 7s 3d. The benevolent fund revenue for the year (including arrears) amounted to £260 16s Hid, and, with the credit- balance at end of 1923 season of £lO3 0s 7d, totalled £423 17s od. A sum of £l5O was nlaced on deposit in the Post Office Savings Bank, making the accumulated funds of the benevolent fund £683 4s lid. The profit on this account fo>r the season was £9B 16s lOd. The bank balance is now £lls 7s 5d (with an outstanding cheque for £4). The adoption of .a uniform balancesheet by the union for the clubs has been of great assistance to the union . in preparing returns, and it also gives the union an insight into the progress or otherwise of cycling in the Dominion. It is pleasing to record that, with the exception of three clubs, the motor cycle race meetings during the past season, have proved successful both from a financial as well as from a racing point of view.

The championships last year wesre won as follows:—New Zealand lightweight championship, eight miles, at Blenheim, A. E. Woodman; New Zealand middleweight championship, ten. miles, at Hawera, C. Stratton; New Zealand heavyweight championship, at Christchurch, 12 miles, P. Coleman, time, 10min 27sec. At the Takapuna. Racecourse on March 7, 1924, Percy Coleman established the following world’s records on a 7 h.p. HarleyDavidson under the auspices of the 1 Auckland Motor Racing Club: —Flying mile, 47 3-osec; standing start, five miles, 4min. 7sec; standing stairt, seven miles, smin 42 l-ssee; standing start, ten miles, Bmin 4 4-ssee; standstanding start, 15 miles, 12min. 4 2-5 see.

In conclusion, your council desires to express its sincere thanks to the club officials, riders, the Press, and all those who have assisted the union during the past season. Mr. Spragg (Hawera) congratulated the union on the sound state of its finances. in reply, the chairman said that the council had notified all clubs that to stabilise the finances they must pay their subscriptions or leave the union. It was pleasing to see that not one club had left the union on that account. Mr. Kay (’Auckland) moved that the matter of investing the benevolent fund be left in the hands of the trustees. An amendment directing the trustees to invest the fund in a lirst-el ass security for three years at til per cent, was carried by a large majority. Air. Harding (Qtahuhu) wished to know the position with regard to the record broken by H. Mol'ler on the Auckland track, which was not menloned in the report. Other delegates expressed surprise that the record had not been officially recognised. The record. it was stated, was established for the TV flying mile in the presence of three official time-keepers. The secretary (Mr. A. Way, Marton) explained that no application had been received from MolJer, but the matter could easily be put in order.—The matter was left in the hands of the Auckland Motor Pacing Club. In reply to Mr. Johnston (New Plymouth). the chairman stated that the three clubs mentioned in the report as holding unsuccessful meetings were all unsuccessful from a financial point of view, chiefly on account of wet weather, not from a lacing point of view. The report and balance-sheet were received. The New Zealand Automobile Association suggested that the Auto Cycle l nion affiliate with the association. There were numerous common interests. the letter stated, and the two I bodies combined would probably be more powerful if they aetd together.— A resolution was passed to the effect that while the union was willing to cooperate with the association and assist it whenever possible, it could not see its way clear to affiliate with the association. An application from the Sports Motor Cycle Club, Auckland, for affiliation was referred bad: to the club to comply with the conditions regarding affiliation as stated in the union’s book of rules. A remit from the council of the union that all machines, side-cars, helmets, etc., must be inspected by a club councillor or an approved official of the club, who shall have authority to bar any machine, etc., that he considers unfit for racing purposes, such

councillor’s or official’s decision to be final, was passed unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Johnston (New Plymouth) it was decided that the New Zealand A.C.U. pay all expenses (train or boat fare and board not exceeding 15s a day) of the delegates to the annual conference and of the councillors to all the council meetings, each club to pay an equal share of the pooled expenses. several remits dealing with the handicapping and classification of riders were submitted by various clubs, and it was decided to defer action pending a report to the council by the union’s four handicappers. CONDUCT OF RACE MEETINGS. Resolutions dealing with the conduct of race meetings were passed as follows:—(1) That the words “each rider shall have the same number throughout the meeting’’ be added to rule 25 after the words “officials of the club.” (2) Flagging: That in lieu of the present regulation flagging a chequered flag io be given at" the" finish of a. race—judges to declare the winners; no other flags to be used, except that a red flag shall be shown in case of accident or where it is desirous to stop race. (3) Nomination fees: That a fixed nomination fee of 10s accompany all entry forms irrespective of the number of races entered for; such fee to be credited against acceptances. (4) That motor cycles with other than T.T. or semi T.T. handle bars to be not allowed on the tracks, and that all motor cycles be fitted with foot-rests which do" not touch the turf at a less angle than 45deg. (5) That the following be substituted for by-law 30: “That the mechanic or mechanics assisting a competitor to start- in a race must leave the track by the inside rail immediately _ the competitor has started, and remain there until the race is finished; and that the number of assistants accompanying each competitor be limited to two.'

Prior to the commencement of the afternoon session, Air. Johnston, on behalf of the New' Plymouth Club welcomed the visiting delegates to New Plymouth. The members of the New Plymouth Club regretted that the visitors stay w’as not longer, in which case the clvro would have been pleased to show' them the beauty spots of the town.

On the motion of Mr. Hardy, it was decided that in cases where motor cycle events are included in the day's programme of a body, such a« an A and P. Society, a price of £2 10s a race be charged against the society concerned, as well as £1 for the perimt, such receipts to go towards the benevolent fund. It was felt by the majority of delegates that, though the union certainly benefited by the inclusion of such races in a programme because of the interest stimulated m motor racing, yet the receipts of the society concerned were undoubtedlv considerably increased. ■ 7 Af f e s‘ lengthy discussion it was decided that each affiliated club pay 5 per cent, on its total gate and grandstand receipts towards the benevolent fund, contributions from any other source from clubs for this fund beiim no longer payable. Gai f ford was unanimously e-elected president for the ensuing year- Messrs. G. Tortonson, A W° Smitlv and A. Spragg vice-presidents; T*ii. i Howler, treasurer; Mr. F. H Hatherly, auditor; and Mr A Wav secretary. ’ ' ’ rnS wasdecided to hold the next annual conference at Auckland.— News.