PIONEER MOTORISTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 210, 18 August 1934, Page 12

PIONEER MOTORISTS

Original H.B. Automobile Club

Growth in Recent Years

Twenty-eight years ago a band of pioneers, who no doubt at that time were dubbed as cranks, formed themselves into what was then known as the Hawke’s Bay Automobile Club, which has since become the Hawke’s Bay Automobile Association. The club was formed of a growing number of enthusiasts whose interest in banding together was probably nothing more, than an interest in the fun of meeting and swapping stories about the week-end achievements of their cars. To-day, however, the Automobile Association, in common with similar bodies throughout the Dominion, shares in the tremendous task of directing and controlling one of the greatest social and economic influences of modern times—the rise of motor transport.

Whoa the association was formed twenty-eight years ago, tho importations of motor-cars into New Zealand numbered 357, and were valued at £49,000. When importations reached their peak in 1928, curs and lorries imported were valued ut £4,278,000, and tyres and tubes accounted for £3,293,-

000. Those figures indicate in a general way the increasing complexity and variousness of the problems with which automobile associations are called upon to deal, and the transformation of their basic motive from being the promotion of good fellowship and the possession of tastes in common to being the governance of a tremendous influence upon the social and economic life of the world. It is worth recalling by the wav that in the years of the Hawke's Bay Automobile Club’s foundation, there were considerably more horsecarriages than motor-cars imported into New Zealand. The first president of the Hawke’s Bay Automobile Club, which later be-

camo 'the Automobile Association, was Mr. J. Macfarlane, and the vice-presi-dents were. Mr. T. Mason Chambers, Mr. H. Humphries, Mr. N. Kettle, and Mr. W. Shrimpton. The committee were Mr.. C. D. Kennedy, Dr. J. I’. Leahy, Mr. E. A. W. Henley, Mr, 11. H. Pharazyn, and Mr. C. Canning, with Mr. C. A. Hawkins as honorary secretary and treasurer. In a little booklet published by the Hawke’s Bay Automobile Club in 1906 is a passage which says: “Every member of the club who is an owner of a motor-car, tri-car, or cycle, must hold a certificate signed by the president, examiners and secretary of the club . . . testifying to the fact that the holder ... is a. fit and proper person to drive a motor car, tri car or motor cyclo as the case may be. . . . A fresh certificate shall be issued on change of a driver.” Road courtesies were nob forgotten. They still arc tho base of tho camaraderie among road users. Under tho heading of “Road Laws” tho booklet warns motorists that they shall not “negligently cause any hurt or damage to any person, carriage, or horse, cattle, or to any goods conveyed in any car-

riage or on any highway, or when ,iu Hie light locomotive or motor car be in such u position that the motorist cannot have control over the same, or quit the car without having taken due precautions against it being started m the motorist’s absence, or allow the car to stand on such a highway as to cause any unnecessary obstruction thereof.” And that they should “whenever necessary, by sounding the bell or other instrument, give audible and sufficient warning ot the approach or position of the motor car.” FIRST CAR IN NAPIER. Mr N. Oates, who so far as it can be ascertained owned the first car seen in Napier .was the proprietor of the Zealandia Cycle Works at Napier. About 1901 he brought his two-seater Rambler to the town. It requires little imagination to conjure mental pictures of how Hie townspeople reacted to this strange mechanical creature. Some time afterwards an American car made at Tarrytown, Massachusetts, was introduced to Napier thoroughfares, it frequently broke down, and legend has it that a journey from the Breakwater to tho Masonic Hotel occupied threequarters of an hour. A sarcastic friend of the owner once suggested that the name-place of its origin could not have been more apt. From what one may gather it seems that the club frequently decided to go .for picnics, and that out of these noisy adventures to bosky woods arose the illustration that the roads would have to be improved and sign-posted. From,these small beginnings, and the slow improvement in motor traction, camo tho Hawke’s Bay Automobile Association. It began on Juno 24, 1911, with an executive whoso names have beca associated not only with the development of tho association, but with tho progress of this province. Mr P. 8. McLean was its first president, Dr. J. P. D. Leahy and Mr L. H. McHardy tho vice-presidents. Tho other foundation officers were: Honorary treasurer, Mr George Kelly; honorary auditor, Mr Nat. Kettle; committee, Messrs Georgo Nelson, J. S. Handyside, 11. J. Duncan, Georgo Kelly, 11, D. D. McLean, H. J. Smith, L. Nelson, P. Patullo, A. D. Brown, H. Gascoygne, Thos. Clark, J. Macfarlane. Mr C. F. Hetley was the first secretary. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE. Tho majority of this executive, particularly tho president, Mr P. 8. McLean, Messrs 11. J. Duncan, J. H. Edmundson and A. D. Brown, were almost continually on the road, observing highway conditions and discussing with the County Council points which might assist the cause of motoring. Tho executive met at what appears to have been infrequent intervals in the year. They exchanged notes and views upon roads and the need for sign-posting, and tho text of their decisions was sent on to tho county council, which invariably lent a sympathetic car, and helped when and where it could. Money was fairly difficult to raise till the association bought a car for road inspection and roadside service. This, of course, was in more recent times—about 10 years ago—but from then onward the membership increased, though tho income was- not very great. As one old member had it: There were many cars and few members in the early days. The first president was a- man of outstanding ability; a lawyer who bail motoring very much nt heart, mid recognised as one of tho early authorities iu the matter. He kept in close touch with English conditions, und was able to advise others in Hawke's Bay upon I ho progress of motoring in the Old Country, particularly in ii.i relation to Hie law. H's knowledge vna very useful in tho drafting of certain laws which later came into force. Tho association begau its course by ; assisting the County Council in its I work of cutting off bad corner;, li iug sign posts, and painting them. These posts wore delivered to Hie roadmen, who creeled them al places which had become nightmares to “auloniobilisls” as the old Automobile Club culled them. GOOD WORK APPRECIATED. The public began Io see the .association was doing goOil work, mil with Hie passage of the years there was less difficulty in swelling the membership. Oilier provinces followed suit, and with their co-operatioa a motor uuion was formed. Upon this basis rested the

early organisation of Dominion motoring interests, the North Island section of which is gathered at Napier to-day.

At the time of the major earthquake on February 3, 1931, the membership had grown from 84 to 1500. Round about the date of the earthquake, the association was congratulating itself upon the flourishing condition of its finances, and there were definite indications that in 1931 the membership would be reinforced. The earthquake came, hundreds of members lost their ears, besides a good deal of real and personal property. Three months afterwards it appeared as though the association might not recover from the shambles into which its organisation was thrown.

All the records were destroyed in the lire which accompanied the earthquake, records which contained valuable information. The depression which came shortly afterwards seemed ut the lime to place an almost insuperable burner- between the assoeiution ami its recovery, hut by dint of cooperation and much bard work, the secretary (Mr R M. Chadwick) was able to reorganise its resources. Today the membership stands at 1200, or thereabouts, a tribute to those who were in control during the troublous 12 months which followed the day when Napier und Hastings were razed to the ground. PRESENT OFFICERS.

The present officers ot the association, which recently bad its name changed to The Automobile Associa turn (Hawke's Bay) Incorporated are; President, Mr J. H. Edmundson; vicepresidents, Mr T. Parker and Dr. \V I). Fitz Gerald; executive, Messrs B. B. Creagh, H. Anderson, H. L. Benjamin, A. Dysart, J. T. Fenwick, W Forsyth, H. R. Horsnell, R P. Kay, G. McCormick, R. McLean, A. E.

Renoul, E. A. Williams, G. C. Tripe, G. B. Hansen, J. E. Gleadow and Capt. L. Forde, Honorary treasurer. Mr 11. Vai Hoadley; auditors, Messrs Harvey and Laws; secretary, Mr R. M. Chadwick; service officer, Mr Roy F. Stace.

As one looks back over the years—from the days when Mr Oates introduced his little Rambler, nnd someone built at Tarrytown—he is astounded else the sleepy-headed, noisy affair at tho seven-leagued strides which motoring lias made. To-day, there are nearly 7000 motor curs registered iu Hawke’s Bay. A year after tho Hawke’s Bay Automobile Association began its career iu 1911 there were 175 cars registered at Napier, in 1913 there were 191, and in tho succeeding years, tho figures were 118, ‘233, 189, 176, 141 and 22§ which shows Itow slow was tho progress of motoring till the close of tho war years. Tbo needs of war stimulated research iu motor transport, and (lie lessons learned in those four years of war accelerated the development of motoring. Tho surviving members of the original club, which brought out what to Wo latter-day folk regard as a quaint little publication, are to be congratulator upon their foresight, and upon the spirit which prompted them to construct rules which have come to be regarded as the foundation of good conduct on the road in 1934.