ASSOCIATED MOTORISTS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 28 May 1932, Page 3

ASSOCIATED MOTORISTS

SOUTH TARANAKI AREA. EXECUTIVE MEMBERS MEET. The monthly meeting of tile general committee of tlie South Taranaki Automobile Association was held at the National Bank chambers in Hawera! last evening when the 'president, Dr. \V. T, Simmons (Patea) occupied the chair. Also present were Messrs. W. A. Betts (Stratford), T. B. Crump, G. H. P. Fitzgerald (Fulham), S. G. Tonics, \V. A. Spragg, R. H. Lecce, J. A. Duff ill, W. 0. Williams, H. G. Dickie, M.P., Dr. AY. M. Thomson (Hawera), the secretary (Mr. W. GWalkley) and the service officer (Air. J. McKee). At the last meeting it was decided to approach the headmasters of the main State schools at Patea, Hawera Eltham and Stratford with the object of undertaking safety work in schools and the proper control of children crossing main thoroughfares, particularly at the* luncheon recess and at the afternoon closing hour. The secretary reported that headmasters at Hawera, Eltham and Stratford had been interviewed and every assistance promised. In Dunedin it was the practice to select boys suitable for the work and to train them as traffic patrols. It was intended to follow out a similar scheme in South Taranaki, boys being selected by the headmasters and coached in traffic management as appled to children in considerable numbers crossing busy streets and inter-, sections.

Mr. Tonks commended the scheme and said it was one of the most important safety measures yet adopted by the association to protect the public. Efficient supervision of children at busy intersections was badly needed and if the head boys of each school could be induced to do this work for a few minutes at each recess there would be less risk of an accident. He. instanced the number of children crossing over the Main .South Road from the Hawera Main School on their way home at lunch time.

Mr. Spragg:: Tt is as bad as a flock of sheep.

Mr. Tonks: No, it is worse than that. You do know which way a sheep will go if tliei'e are others about. Not so with these youngsters. , It was pointed out that the infants were better controlled by their teachers than the older children. Mi. Betts said that the same trouble was experienced at Stratford while Mr Fitzgerald agreed that traffic police in the vicinity of the Eltham school would be a great assistance to motorists and a protection to the children. Mr. Walkley said that the boys willing to act as traffic, officers would be permitted to wear a special metal badge designed for the association. . Messrs. Williams, Duffill, Tonks and Dr. Thomson were appointed a subcommittee to deal further with this matter and to attend to the casting of the badges.

‘ ‘SHARE EXPENSES. ” 'Z. - A letter was received from the Commissioner of Transport directing attention to the fact that under the Transport Licensing Act, 1931, it was an offence for any motor vehicle other than a bona fide taxi, to be used for hire or reward for the carriage of passengers unless licensed under the Act. This precluded a car owner from carrying passengers on the payment by the latter of a subscription, no matter how small towards the cost of the benzine. Nuiperous cases were continually coming under notice where advertisements in the Press invited persons to travel by private' car and to share expenses in various forms. It was intended to follow up these advertisements and to institute prosecutions When necessary ; also departmental officers and local body inspectors throughout the Dominion were instructed to prosecute in all similar* cases. Not only was it a breach to commit the foregoing practices, but also to permit of them. It would become necessary for a higher insurance premium to be paid by the respective owner under the Motor-vehicle Insurance (third party) Risks Act and the regulations thereunder. Failure to pay such higher premiums would, of course, enable the insurance company to ‘collect any damages paid under the Act from the owner of the car under the provisions of tsection 17 of the latter Act. Mr. Williams: The police will ba down on all advertisers after this. It was resolved that a copy of the circular be sent to all financial members. , ~ It was decided to hold over a discussion on third party insurance until next meeting when it was hoped there would be a larger attendance of Stratford members. The matter of the establishment of ap agency of the association at Stratford instead of the present branch which, it was held, was too costly, was debated. It was a recommendation of the economy committee that the branch be not continued, but tlie Stratford members maintained that an agency would not serve their purposes to the same advantage. • Mr. Betts: The association’s Stratford membership was held by reason of the fact that it was a branch. Air. Fitzgerald urged members to avoid all ideas of parochialism. He believed that the time would come when ultimately there would be a merger of tlie North and South Associations. , Mr. Williams agreed with this view and went further by saying that there should be one association for the whole ef the North Island. A member: Go further still. ''fry

not a New Zealand association and be done with it

The matter was not pursued pending a better attendance of Stratford members. RIGHT HAND RULE. The vel’dict of Sr! J. H. Salmon, S.M., at a recent inquest in Wanganui and his observations on the right hand rule of the road for pedestrians were referred to by the secretary. Mr. Salmon stated that it was desirable to stress for the benefit of pedestrians using country roads where there were no footpaths and which roads were used by fast-moving motor traffic, that the old rule of the road for pedestrians in such cases was to keep to the right-hand side of the road. In that manner they would be facing the oncoming traffic and would have little risk of injury'from it, while with regard to traffic overtaking them, such traffic would, of course, keep to its left, or proper, side of the road. Mr. Salmon said that the rule was to be found in many text-books and the desirability of observing it, particularly at night, would be apparent. Mr Walkley remarked that this matter already had been discussed by the association some two years ago, but the observations of the magistrate gave it greater significance* Mr. Lbece suggested that it would be necesary first to educate the various local authorities and induce them to change tlie “keep to the left” rule on footpaths. Dr. Thomson said that if headlights were kept down to. the regulation height at 75 yards there would be fewer accidents to pedestrians. The chairman: We cannot complain of the improper focussing of lights in South Taranaki. It s worse in other districts.

Mr. Walkley said he believed' that 95 per cent, of pedestrians thought they were doing right by keeping on the left hand side of the road or footpath. Dr. Thomson: The same rule should apply to cyclists. They should be made to observe the right hand rule. Mr Fitzgerald; There are few motorists who have not- had the experience of approaching suddenly on to a cyclist and almost running him down. The magistrate’s observations were

referred to the North Island Motor Union. WHITE CENTRE LINES. Mr. Leece mentioned that in. other districts motorists were assisted by white centre lines on dangerous roads. Similar lines painted on some of the bad road bends on the Tonga-hoe and Manawapou hills would give a sense of added securftv to drivers, also on the Boylan Road, near Eiltham. The idea s’eemed to be a- particularly favoured one for it was in general use in many districts outside this province. It was resolved that the Patea. Hawera and Stratford County Councils be requested to paint centre lines at the dangerous bends on the roads mentioned. * SINGLE! HEADLIGHTS. On receipt of a letter from the Wairapara Association it was resolved that all local bodies in South Taranaki be asked to enforce the regulation prohibiting the driving of cars .with only one headlight. It was mentioned by motorists with considerable experience of night driving that dozens of “single-eyed” cars were met on the roads in all parts of the district. The practice was dangerous. SERVICE REPORT. The service officer stated that during the month he ’patrolled the loads c-n five wet days and gave service to four inembers. "Eleven night patrols were undertaken and service given to 14 drivers, two of whom were enrolled as new members. Service was given on other days to seven members. Altogether 15 lots of broken glass and boxthorn were removed from roads. The Wanganui races were attended on both days and service given to five motorists. Improvements at the Kakaramea “waterhole” were being effected Three broken signs were re-erect-ed and three Wilfully damaged signs repaired. Considerable improvement m visibility at the junction of Denby and South Roads had been effected by the cutting of a high boxthorn hedge. On the service officer’s recommendation it was resolved that the Patea County Council he asked to paint the approaches of the Whenuakura Bridge white.