MOTOR UNION AFFAIRS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 August 1934, Page 8

MOTOR UNION AFFAIRS

RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSINGS EVIDENCE IN COURT CASES ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT NAPIER The year ended June 30 was another year of financial difficulty as far as tlie Dominion generally was concerned, and the Automobile Association might have been forgiven if, in view of the financial stringency, it had curtailed the service to members, stated the annual report of the North Island Motor Union presented to the annual meeting at Napier to-day. On the contrary all associations had followed the policy of giving more anil yet more service to members, with the result that . the aggregate membership of associations affiliated to the union had increased during the year. The membership of the associations at June 30 was as follows: Auckland, 15,308; Manawatu, 1275; South Taranaki, 1586; Wellington 4756; Wairarapa, 1593; Hawke’s Bay, 11-80; Wanganui, 1380; Taranaki, 1242; total, 28,320. At the end of 1933 the total membership of affiliated associations was 27,869, so that this year’s figures showed an increase of 451 compared with the previous year. The services available to financial members of an Automobile Association were so varied and so valuable that it was false economy for anyone owning a motor car not to be a member of an association. Automobile Association members who to-day were enjoying the privileges of membership agreed that the guinea that they paid to the Automobile Association by way of subscription was the best investment they made in the year.

“GET YOU HOME” SERVICE In December the Automobile Associations in the Manawatu, Taranaki, Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and South Taranaki districts put into operation a “Get You Home” service. This was now: being adopted by the Auckland and Wellington Association, so that the service was available to all Automobile Association members throughout the North Island. _ Tnis “get you home” service was designed to render assistance to Automobile Association members in the event of a roadside breakdown. Under the plan all it was necessary for the member to do in the event of a breakdown is to communicate with the nearest garage and a mechanic would be sent to his assistance. If tne mechanic could not get the car going within an hour he would arrange to tow the member’s car to the garage or to the memhome, whichever was the nearer. This service was given Automobile Association members free of cost, within a radius of 15 miles from the garage or the member’s home, but in .cases where the service was required between midnight and 6 a.m. and overtime rates were payable to the garage people, the member was required to pay the excess on the amount ordinarily payable by the association. The service did not extend to eases where a car runs out of petrol or oil, it being considered that a motorist before setting out on a trip should satisfy himself that he has sufficient of each. fSome years ago it was agreed by all associations to adopt a uniform colour and form of direction signs and these are now seen throughout the North Island, and are a credit to the Automobile Associations concerned. There, .were some areas that still require attention and it was to be hoped that during the present year the signs not already standardised would be brought up to present day requirements. RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSINGS Very little had \been done in New Zealand this year in the direction of improving the visibility at level crossings, and still less had been- done towards eliminating these danger spots. Worse than -this, however, was a recent announcement by the chairman- of the Railways Board that the elimination of level crossings was no concern of the Railway Department, but a matter for the’local authorities. Had the railways in New Zealand been privately owned, level crossings would never have been tolerated, but because they were run by -the State, not only were they permitted, but the chairman of the Railways Board made the declaration referred to. Some years ago it was agreed that the cost of elimination of level crossings should be borne proportionately by the Railway Department, the Main Highways BoaTd and the local roading authority. This seemed to be a fair arrangement, and it was difficult to- understand why the Railway Department should suddenly experience this change of heart. The Prime Minister had been written to asking him to endeavour to prevail upon the Railway Department to take a more reasonable view of the problem.

EVIDENCE (XN COMMISSION

It frequently happened that a motorist was charged with an offence at sofnT point away from his residence. He may liave a perfectly good defence to the charge, but as the law stands at present, if he desired to defend the action, he must himself appear at the court of hearing and take his witnesses with, him, and it was in most cases cheaper to allow judgment to go against thei alleged offender and pay the fine rather than go. to the expense of defending £he action, although the motorist may have a perfectly good defence. This had always seemed to be unfair, because justice should be available to all at little expense, and the union would have to continue to urge upon the Government that in such cases the alleged offender may be allowed to give his evidence in his home town and for it to be transmitted to the court of hearing so that he was not found guilty without being heard. During the year negotiations between Automobile Associations in New Zealand had resulted in all associations agreeing to change their names to The Automobile Association followed by theif territorial designation. Hitherto .there had been no uniformity. The president desired to thank all members of the executive of the union for their assistance, patience and cooperation throughout the year. His task as president ufas not always easy, but nevertheless 'he had derived a great deal of pleasure from his association with- the representatives of motordom ih New Zealand.