MOTORISTS’ INTERESTS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 26 August 1933, Page 5

MOTORISTS’ INTERESTS

-SOUTH TARANAKI ASSOCIATION

REPORTS AT MONTHLY' MEETING

(Members of the South Taranaki Automobile Association present at the monthly meeting of the general committee in Hawera last night were: Mr G. A. Carter (chairman), Dr. .Simmons, Messrs W. O. Williams, W. A. Spragg, G. J. Bayley, W. A. Betts, J. A. Duffill, G. 11. P. Fitzgerald, C. It. Honeyfield and W. A. Wards. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs L. J. Furri'e, W. O’Callaghan and T. B. Crump. The service officer (Mr J. McKee) reported that during the month lie gave service to seventeen members and received three night calls and was able to give satisfactory service. On four wet days he patrolled roads and gave assistance to four members whose cars were stuck in mud. Fie cleared from the roads 23 lots of broken glass, two lots of tacks and 4 lots of boxthorn. He urged motorists to be careful not to throw bottles on roadways as such might cause serious accidents. He said lie had given particulars concerning road conditions in the North Island to 19 menioers. All local main roads were in good order. White lineshad been painted on many corners and some repainted. These lines were of great benefit to motorists. Suitable places had been arranged for testing headlights at Eltham, Kaponga, Manaia, Patea and Opunake and this service would be given free to members during September. He tested headlights at Ilawera- on two nights and 49 members availed themselves .of this service. He attended at a football match at Eltham, the Wanganui races, the charity arid children’s ball, and the Turi memorial unveiling, lie reported that on a vacant section adjoining Tawhiti railway crossing a high iron fence was erected which made it impossible to see approaching trains. He gave two talks during the month and had been asked by several teachers to give another talk. He erected three new signs ana rc-crected two old signs. Dealing with the question of lectures at the schools, Mr McKee said It would be advisable to get in before the Christmas holidays. The chairman said that this was the best way to give the children a knowledge of regulations and by-laws, and it was important because they were to be the motorists of the future. He said that the help of the service officer was much appreciated. Mr McKee said that many schools were doing good work, notably Turuturu, -Stratford and Eltham, in the matter of training children to know the rules of the road, but continuity of service was needed. The matter was left to his discretion to combine such tuition with his routine work. NORTH ISLAND UNION. The chairman said the business at the North Island Union meeting had been well and carefully done, though some business was belli up owing to Wellington delegates being delayed through a train breakdown.

There had been some heated discussions at times, but Mr O’Callaghan had handled the meeting very well in a difficult matter and was to be complimented on his tactful action. He referred briefly to the question of insurance, the rates having been reduced and the speed limit, on which the Highways Board had refused exemptions and explained that it was decided to recommend an increase in the table of speeds by five miles per hour. Derating, he said, was not approved. Among other matters discussed were solcn cars, road reports, and glaring headlights. Deferring to number plates, Mr Carter said that the figures presented proved that the Department was making a very large profit, and it was resolved to protest against a continuance of the temGENEEAL. The representative on the No. 7 District Highways Council advised that, from September 1 until further notice, work would lie in progress on the Mokau Diver Bridge on the (Main North Road and it would be necessary for motorists using the bridge to reduce speed to live miles per hour, even though at times the reason for this speed might not be apparent. (Speed notices would be erected accordingly. The question of poles for road signs was briefly discussed and the service officer submitted estimates of costs. He said he could re-erect three each week.