N.Z. MOTOR UNION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 216, 26 August 1927, Page 5

N.Z. MOTOR UNION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

HELD IN NAPIER

MANY QUESTIONS DEALT WITH

The annual meeting of the North Island (N.Z.) Motor Union was held in Napier this morning, when the retiring president, Mr A. J. Toogood, presided over a large and representative gathering. The chairman extended a hearty welcome to the delegates, and briefly referred to several matters that had taken nlace during the life of the union. Commenting on the report and balance-sheet presented Iw the executive, the chairman pointed out that the union was some £l9 beter ltd than it was at the end of the previous year. w GAOL FOR TAKING CARS. Evidently the problem of stolen cars is one that has been taxing the minds of members of more than one automobile club, for two remits were received for the consideration of the union.

The Taranaki Association wrote asking that the union take such action as may be necessary for the purpose of inducing the Government to amend section 10 of “The Police Offences Amendment Act. 1924.’’ so that the penalty shall be substantially increased.

The Wellington Club forwarded the following remit:—“That amended legislation be sought, asking that the removal of a car by an unauthorised person, now- treated as converting io own use. be treated as a theft, and the minimum penalty be a sentence of six months’ imprisonment, without the option of a fine.” Mr F. J. Hill, of Wanganui, expressed the opinion that the Wellington remit was the more preferable one and he would support that one. Mr F. W. Manton (Wellington) formally moved the remit, pointing out that the reasons for such » course were obvious. Mr V. Duff (Taranaki) expresshimself prepared to support the V'<lington remit and allow his club’s - drop. It was pointed out by Mr A. Grin son (Auckland) that it would not be advisable to set the minimum sentence. and accordingly it was agreed that the remit be altered so as to read: “ ... ■ and the penalty Be a sentence of imprisonment, without the option of a fine.’’ This met with the anproval of the union, and was adopted. WANDERING STOCK. “Undoubtedly the ‘Pounding Act’ is not adequate to meet present-day conditions,” stated Mr. F. J. Hill (tianganui) hi moving a remit from the Wanganui Club on the matter of wandering stock. He pointed out that when the Act wa s framed there was not the motor traffic that there is at the present and he thought that the union’s solicitor should go through the Act and see where amendments should be made. “Another thing,’’ he said, “is the fact that magistrates have not the power to inflict a fine sufficient to make the practice of allowing the stock to wander on the road an unprofitable one. Some farmers consider it cheap grazing,” he declared. He then moved the following remit: "That at the present time stock w-andering on main roads and by-roads by day and by night, is a grave danger to motorists, and a serious menace to human life. That in view of the above, and also in view of the fact that the present Impounding Act was passed in 1908, since when there have been very few amendments thertc dealing with motor vehicles and motor traffic, the North Island Motor Union approach the proper authorities with a view of having the Impounding Act amended in the following direction: (a) Rangers to receive a minimum regular salary and not be solely dependent upon their pound fees (b) That pound fees be increased all over New Zealand, (c) That the penalties under the Act be made heavier and the powers of the rangers increased, (d) That county councils be not permitted to lease grazing rights for their roads either by day or by night.” Mr. Ivon V. Wilson (Wellington) seconded the motion but suggested that the remit be altered to read “that all local bodies be not permitted to lease grazing rights for their roads either by aay or night. ’ Several members favoured the second and third proposed amendments but on the first and fourth there was a diversion of opinion. The chairman thought that the union should be careful in this remit as it was necessary to consider the views of the farming community. That very few local bodies would allow roads used by motorists to any extent to be let for grazing, was the opinion of Mr. H. H. Morley.

“At present the remit reads too drastically,” commented Mr. E. P. Cox.

It was pointed out that some of the smaller local bodies could not afford to pay a salary. After some discussion it was decided to strike out the first amendment and the fourth clause be altered to read “that all local bodies be not permitted to lease grazing rights >n highways and main thoroughfares uy day and that the legislation regarding night grazing be enforced, RED REAR LIGHTS. Two remits on the question of red rear lights or reflectors were received from the Wairarapa and Wellington Clubs. The former club wrote urging that the union secure amended legis lation to compel all push-bicycles :o carry a red rear reflector on the machine, at right angles to the road. The Wellington remit asked that it be made compulsory for all pushbicycles anfl horse-drawn traffic to carry a red rear light placed in such a position as to be clearly visible from the rear. The chairman stated that this matter had been considered by recent conference of motorists and • remit had been passed that a red light be carried on the back of a bicycle. Mr. Ivon Wilson stated that the South Island people had found that red reflector enclosed in a ring of white as a background was most successful. The Public Works Department had experimented in the matter and realised that the reflector with white background is better than a

red light. “It is unreasonable to expected a bicycle to be fitted with a ught,” he declared. Mr. E Barton (Wairarapa) contended that the main portion of his club’s remit was the fixing of the red light or reflector at right angles to the ground. Relative to the matter of bicycles it was decided to take no action -n view of the conference’s decision. It was finally decided that the union urge that legislation, under the Motor and Motor Vehicles Act. os introduced making if compulsory for all horse traffic to carry a red light placed in a position on the off side so as to be clearly seen from the rear.

UNIFORMITY OF SIGN-POSTING.

“That steps should be taken bv the North Island Motor Union to set up a motor service organisation for the North Island for the purpose of establishing the following: (1) Uniformity of sign-posting; (2) up-to-date and reliable information on all roads; (3) proper sign-posting of byroads; (4) official guide book and local guide books and maps; (5) and other matters in connection with service to motorists.

This was the contents of a remit from the Wanganui Club on the question of service organisation. In moving its adoption Mr. F. J. Hill (Wanganui) stated that the organisation would have its headquarters in a central town in the North Island, situated in, or adjacent to, most main tourist routes. The number of officers would at the commencement not be large, say three os tour at the most, but the scheme would enable the smaller associations to have the benefit of the services of an experienced officer for part of the year, and in a very few years they would be able to contribute sufficient to the organisation to make use <ll the services of one or more officers all the year round. It would also pave the way tor forming what must eventually come, and that is the New Zealand Motor Union. Each offiier would be trained on the same lines and all sign-posting would be done on the same system. This last was very important, in view of the fact that very little had been dune in the North Island as a whole, with regard to warning signs, and it was essential in this respect that the same signs in any part of New Zealand should indicate that the same degree of caution is required. He suggested that perhaps the matter might be left to a sub-com-mittee to go into

Mr. V. Duff (Taranaki) seconded the motion after withdrawing a remit from his club on the same question. Mr. Ivon V, Wilson (Wellington) explained that there was such a scheme working in Auckland and suggested that the other districts combine with that scheme.

Mr. F. W. Manton (Wellington) agreed that it was desirable to have uniformity of sign-posting. However he did not favour the suggestion of having officers in different parts of the country. “The principle of the remit is right,” stated Mr. E. P. Cox (South Taranaki), “but it will be necersary to have one body governing throughout the Dominion.”

The chairman, though agreeing to a certain extent with the remit, urged the delegates to take into consideration the matter of finance for the scheme which would be very great.

Mr. Wilson thought that the Auckland Club might be induced to allow its officer to confer with the other clubs on matters of interest.

On behalf of the Auckland Club, Mr. A. Grayson stated that the service officer’s duties varied. He organised the small towns and set up branches at some of the bigger towns where agents were appointed. He toured round and drew maps from a motorist’s viewpoint and collected road information for the vear book and guide books. At hi 8 office there were facilities for giving information and at certain times the service offr and his staff were kept very busy. .

Mi. Hill then moved that the matter be left to a sub-committee of ♦he executive to go into and report when -jos idle. This met with the ' ' 1 ' ths delegates.