ASSOCIATED MOTORISTS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 28 April 1934, Page 5

ASSOCIATED MOTORISTS

SOUTH TARANAKI AREA ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL BODY CHANGE OF TITLE PROPOSED At the. monthly meeting of the general committee of the . South Taranaki Automobile Association held in Hawera last evening there were present Messrs G. A, Carter (of Stratford, president), in the . chair, J. A. Duff ill, W. A. Spragg, W. O. Williams, W. D. McL’Doyvie, W. o'’.Callagiian, G. J. Bayley and Rl. H. Leece (Hawera), Dr. W. T. Simmons, and Mr O. R. Honeyfield (Patea), Messrs T. B. Grump and G. H. P. Fitzgerald (Eltham) W. A. Betts (Kaponga), A. Rawies, W. E. Wiliams, L. J. F'urrie and F. Mourie(Stratford), and the secretary (Mr W. G. Walkley). The service officer (Mr J. . McKee) also was in attendance. Mr Bettsi reported verbally on the condition of the Awatuna-Te Kiri roacl and said that what little work had been done to improve dangerous sections did not seem at all satisfactory. In his opinion the sections referred to ought to be relaid. It was resolved that the matter be referred to the county engineer and failing suitable work being carried out by June. 1 to. minimise the danger that notices warning motorists be erected. It- was reported that the association’s free break-down service instituted last December had proved of very material benefit to members in emergency and during the month had involved the association in an expenditure in disbursements of £ls. The .service, as well as the association’s scheme of free legal defence, had proved a big inducement in the enrolment of new members and the committee, decided that it be continued.

It was resolved to call a special gen- \ eral meeting of members, on the last Friday in May for the purpose of considering a motion to alter the title of association to that of “The Automobile Association (South Taranaki) Incorporated.” This decision was in conform-, ity with the general movement through- j out the Dominion to establish the Automobile Association as a. national j body. 1 Although ,he had been discharged; from the Auckland hospital for several months, Constable E. E. Stewart, of | the Newton police station, 'has not yet j recovered from the serious injuries he • received in attempting to. arrest a I motor car thief in Grey Lynn last September. He has not been able to re-; sum© duty and is confined to his home, j In a letter to the association Mr Stew- j art expressed appreciation of the sympathy extended to him and also conveyed his thanks to members for their donation in recognition of his devotion to duty. ' j The letter was received. : In again discussing the matter of the penalty for the unlawful conversion of cars, Mr O'Cla.llaghan stated that j a circular had been dispatched to mem-j bers of Parliament and the Press draw- . ing attention to the present inadequate; maximum punishment which might be; meted out to offenders. The recent' Grey Lynn incident and also that at; Mokaui bad aroused public indignation, and it seemed that the Justice, Depart-j ment might at last be moved to take j a more .serious view of the offence and : fix a heavier penalty. . ! The secretary’ mentioned that in America the offence had become so i acute that some States had increased. the penalty to 20 years’ imprisonment. ; While visiting South Taranaki on a . camping tour at Easter Mrs L. O. | Girdles tone, of Elastbourne, Wellington, was unfortunate enough, to lose a- valuable pearl tiepin in a grove of pines near Patea, where camp was, pitched for a night. As the result, of a re-; quest to the association Mrs Girdlestone had the tiepin restored to her following a search of the locality by the service officer. In a letter of , thanks to the association, Mrs Girdlestone expressed her appreciation of the prompt and efficient service and although not in a position to offer a very substantial donation she forwarded the ; sum of 5s 6d to recompense the associa.tion for its, trouble. The chairman remarked that the f association at times had dealt v ith ■some strange requests, hut tliis appeal - ; ed to be the strangest of all Mrs Girdles tone was a member of the Wei-; lington association. It was resolved that the dangerous , bend at the top of the Manutahi bil ; be indicated with white battens lor, safer night driving. ; The No. 7 District Highway’s Council | wrote inquiring the extent of the asso-j ciatiou’s signposting on main highways j during the ensuing financial year, and , ib wa«s decided, to reply stating that the : sum of £2OO was being placed on the, estimates for work of this nature. The service officer reported that next. week he would commence with the. erection of 272 new signs which would; be one of the largest undertakings tor | some time. , T ~ It- was decided to request the fsortti. Taranaki Association to erect no parking” signs opposite the entrances to nrivate residences, on Wai-iti beach. ’Fhe fact that there are no drinking places for stock on the main road be-, tween Kakaramea, and Tariki was, mentioned and it wa,s decided that, the. matter be referred to the Society ioi the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. j n his report for the month the .service officer stated that during Easter; he had a, very busy time. There were; more cars on the road this year than for the past three years. He had 38 inquiries! about roads in various parts of the North Island and three members were given information about South Island roads. He gave service during Easter week to nine motorists, all being members except one, who had since i joined. Another motorist had trouble with his carburettor and after fixing his trouble he also became a member. Altogether the service officer had enrolled 43 new lumbers and following a canvass, of Kiore and jYlatu-u distiicts there are onlv four motorists who were now not members. Seven lots of broken ofass were removed from roads and chirm" the month service was given to ig members. Headlight testing was carried out at Hawera and Stratford nnd the following functions were attended : AVhangamomona, Dog Trials,

Egmonfc Dog Trials,. Manaia Hibernian sports, Kakaramea. sports arid Hawera trots. The service officer had revived 126 old signs and repainted 78 old poles. Next week, if weather permitted, he would .start erecting new signs between Stratford and Opunake. Last Friday seven push bicycles were noticed, without lights, one motor cycle withor.t a light and two trucks without taillights. Attention was drawn to the fact that large droves of cattle were being driven by onlv one drover. Only a fortnight ago on the Manawapou H.ill a. mob of approximately 150 head of works cattle being; driven bv one man was met and it took some time to get through without some help. Drovers generally gave every assistance "to motorists, but where there is only one man in # charge of a large mob of cattle he was powerless to help.