AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 August 1924, Page 4

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

RESUSCITATED IN HAWERA. A well-attended meeting of motorists was held in the Hawera Borough Council Chambers last night, when it was decided to resuscitate the South Taranaki Automobile Association, which was formed in 1914. , Mr S. C. Tonks was elected to the chair, and after explaining the object of the meeting introduced Mr Ashcroft Edwards, of Wellington, who had journeyed to Hawera in order te address the meeting. Mr Edwards addressed the meeting on the aims and objects of the automobile clubs and the N.Z. Union. He said that the question of the formation of automobile associations right throughout the Dominion was an important one. The Wellington Association was formed in 1905, and had had a struggling infancy, it experiencing difficulties in the direction of lack of pi-ogressive thought and class antagonism. Local bodies, too, had been unsympathetic, and they would remember the famous “Hutt road hurdles.” Many of the clubs started in New Zealand had failed because they catered for the social side rather than tlie economic. It was necessary for motorists to combine in their general interests, which were the interests of the public as well. The co-operation of motorists, said Mr Edwards, was absolutely essential —more so • to-day than at any previous time. They had about 50,000 motor car owners in New* Zealand, who represented only a very small proportion of the population of 1,250,000, and as they had a number of people who were not anxious to put their hands in their pockets if they could get out of it, they found that some people were looking to those 50,000 motorists to provide the whole of the roads, which were a national asset. The motorists w-ere prepared to pay their fair share, but not the full cost. County councils complained that the motorists were tearing tip their roads, but it must also be remembered that the motorists could complain that the surface of the present day roads were not in. keeping with the present day traffic. It had to be realised that roads must be surfaced with a material that was capable of carrying motor traffic. In order to assist in providing good highways the motorists had come forward and stated their willingness to be taxed, and eventually it had been agreed that a flat tax of £2 .should be included in the provisions of the then proposed Bill. Mr Edwards said that the Automobile Union had done much good work in the direction of breaking down prejudices and seeing that fair regulations were made. The erection of signs was a matter which could be taken up by the clubs in the various districts. * Travelling comfort and economy was being dealt with. A hotel scheme whereby members obtained concessions had been put into operation in the South Island, and w r as in the course of being established in this island. Dangerous crossings were also being dealt with. In America they favoured throwing the entire onus on the motorist, and a stop, look, and listen campaign had been held. However, it was found that .only five per cent took any notice of the w r arning, the majority being willing to take the chance. In the Wellington Club provision had been made for the giving of free legal advice to members, and they had undertaken the defence, and sometimes the prosecution, of members who did not observe the i-egulations. The speaker also referred to the accidents which had been occurring lately, and said he had read an article on the question in the local paper. While not wishing to criticise 'the article, he thought it must be realised that a new T invention w r hich more or less jeopardised safety w-as liable to criticism when possibly lack of regulations were to blame. ' In America there was an average of one motor car to seven and a half persons, and statistics showed that accidents had been steadily decreasing during the last three or four years. It w T as considered that this decrease w T as due to the improvement that was being made in the regulation of motor traffic and the greater education of the pedestrian. Mr Cox gave the meeting some information regarding the old South' Taranaki Automobile Association. He said that that body was formed in 1914, and from then oh until' 1917 did very good work; in fact, a good deal of credit was due to that body for moving, in the direction of urging the metalling of tlje Boylan road and the installation of alarm bells on the South road crossing. The old South Taranaki Automobile Association, which was not defunct, was incorporated and affiliated with the N.Z.A.A. Mr Cox accordingly moved that they revive the old association, and call a "meeting later to elect new officers. Dr. Thomson seconded. He felt that a large number of people w T ho owned cal's had not been interested in joining partly because they thought that the social side would be the more important. He w T as pleased to hear Mr Edwards say that this was not so. Mr Spragg considered that there wras no need to hold up progress by calling another meeting to elect officers. That could be done at the present meeting. Mr O’Callaghan thought that the old club bad died a natural death, find he considered that a fresh club should be formed. He moved an amendment in that direction, and Mr Spragg seconded. Mr Cox then withdrew the • latter part of his motion, allowing,it to read: “That the South Taranaki A.A. be: resuscitated,” and on being put his ; motion was carried. It was decided that the subscription be £1 Is, and in order to put the election of officers in order subscriptions were then received, all present enrolling as members. The meeting then proceeded with the election of officers, which resulted as follows: President, Dr. Thomson; vice-presidents Messrs S. C. Tonks and W. O’Callaghan; secretary, Mr W. G. Walk ley; committee, Messrs E. P. Cox, P. O’Dea, J. DuffiU, A. H. Jones, and Dr. McGhie; auditor, Mr Suisted. The meeting concluded with votes of thanks to Mr Ashcroft Edwards, the Hawera Star, and the convenors.