Dominion Motor Trade Conference Proceeds

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7019, 19 September 1929, Page 8

Dominion Motor Trade Conference Proceeds

\ Vice Presidents Elected

Under the dual chairmanship of Messrs. C. W. Wood and H. Bauchop, the twelfth annual conference of the New Zealand Motor Trade Association and the New Zealand Wholesale Motor and Cycle Traders' Association, Ltd, was continued in the Municipal hall yesterday. The first business, taken in committee, concerned amendments to rules, the meeting then dealing with the 25 remits on the order paper, most or which were in relation to the matter's affecting the internal working of the trade and not foT publication. .Vice-Presidents. Messrs. G. W. Trench (Christchurch) and E. J. M. Ferguson (North Taranaki) were appointed as vice-presidents of the association. Technical Training. “The technical training scheme has made substantial progress during the year, and the large amount of time and money spent rs now beginning to give satisfactory results," reported the committee. “A brief resume of the scheme since its inception is considered fitting at this meeting, as the training scheme now in operation is the result of an address given at the motor trade conference held in Palmerston North in 1919. At that conference Mr. H. L. Eogers addressed the meeting on the position of the motor trade, and some of its most urgent requirements. He stressed the need for trained mechanics and advocated the adoption by the trade of some plan which would ensure better trained mechanics. The idea was enthusiastically agreed to by the meeting and a committee set up to put it in practical shape. The committee reported to the next annual meeting at Timaru, and submitted a Bcheme for employing an instructor to organise classes of mechanics. This scheme was adopted, and contributions lo the technical training fund amounting to over £6OO were made at that meeting. When first put into practice it was found impossible to make progress with the training of adult mechanics, whose capacity and education was too varied to permit of them being dealt with in common classes in the various centres. Ultimately it was decided the only chance of success lay in getting the. boys when entering the trade and supplementing their apprenticeship work by theoretical and practical instruction at classes held in the technical colleges in tho various centres. The consent of the contributors to the fund was obtained, to permit of diverting the fund to the training of boys, in place of the original plan. A syllabus and plan of training was drawn up and local associations were invited to set up apprenticeship coinmittees as provided .for in the Apprenticeship Act,. and obtain orders through the Court of Arbitration'. The first class was commenced at Auckland, to which a grant of £IOO was made from tho funds. This was supplemented by a grant of £25 from the local association, and as th<f Government subsidised this £ for £, a sum of £250 was thus made available for this class. Valuable experience has been gained through the working of the Auckland class, which has benefited others starting later. The principal difficulty has been in obtaining suitable instructors, who can make the work interesting and retain the students. A necessary factor to tho success is tho enthusiastic support of tho employers in standing behind and encouraging tne local apprenticehip committee. Auckland has done valuable work in this way, and the employers have contributed liberally to provide extra finance required. Classes are now in operation at Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru. Oamaru and Invercargill and all steps have been taken to open at Wanganui at the commencement of the school year. In all, some 350 boys in the motor trade arc being trained in this way and each year a number of boys are being turned out who are capable of taking up important positions in the motor trade throughout the Dominion. The scheme is yet in its infancy and your committee hones that within the next two years tho number of boys being trained may be doubled. The ellict on the Industry will be most valuable and as each of those boys who successfully .•omplctes the course of tuition receives a certificate of competence, the day is not far distant when tho certification and licensing of motor mechanics will be necessary beforo they can secure employment as efficient mechanics. The monies contributed at the Timaru conference have been nursed by the committee and have been sufficient in the early days of the scheme to give the assistance required in providing special equipment for these classes. Tho balance on deposit at the Post Office Savings bank on June 30, 1929, was £428 10s.Id but as a number of grants have been made by the committee since that date, the fund has been reduced to £lO3 10s Id. In all, tho following grants have now been made:— Auckland .... £IOO Wellington 100 Christchurch 100 Timaru 75 Invercargill 50 ’ Oamaru 50 Wanganui 50 New Plymouth 50 Total £525 “The time has now arrived when it is necessary to provide a regular source of incorpc for this fund and your com-

Apprentices to Receive Technical Education

mittec asks that this be dealt with at this meeting. The committee has decided that ail local associations adopting the scheme and working under the conditions laid down by the committee will be given an opening grant of £SO and subsequent annual grants on a capitation basis of a sum which must be regulated by tho income. To be successful and carry on this scheme to its practical conclusion, an income of at least £7OO per annum will be required and your committee recommends that a small subscription per. member per annum would t easily provide this and would prove a most profitable investment to everybody concerned with the motor trade."

Speaking to the report, Mr. Bauchop stated that the position was that the necessity to have properly trained mechanics was becoming daily more apparent. The funds for this purpose, however, wero not sufficient at tho present time and he suggested that a levy of 10s per firm per annum be made in the Dominion, with the exception of petrol sellers and tyre dealers.

Mr. G. W. Tench (Christchurch) asked if such money would receive a Government subsidy, the chairman replying in the affirmative. Mr. Scott thought that if this levy only provided training for 350 apprentices and was looked at in the right light, it would be admitted by all traders that the principle was an excellent one. A motion on these lines was then adopted, the same committee as last year being re-appointed to control the technical training section of the trades' operations. Benevolent Fund. The following reports were read to the meeting and adopted:— “The benevolent fund, which was instituted at the Wellington conference in 1925, had made little progress until the present year. At the Nelson conference last year, it was decided to deduct 2i per cent, from all monies received as subscriptions to local and Dominion sections of the M.T.A., ana to the Wholesalers' Association. This has produced during the past year a sum of £9l 17s 4d, made up as ioliows: per cent, on subscriptions to M.T.A. Dominion Association, £sl 0s (id; 2i per cent, on subscriptions to M.T.A. local Association, £2B 16s lOd; 2i per cent, on subscriptions to Wholesalers' Association, £l2; total, £9l 17s 4d. “The credit balance, which stood at £5 last year, now stands at £9B 19s 4d. A further donation of £2 2s which will appehr in this year’s accounts has been made by the South Taranaki branch of the association, and as the reason for this gift may stimulate other local associations to similar action, it is given here. At the annual meeting of that branch held recently, in an. interval between the dinner and' the business meeting, a member as a joke, commenced taking up a collection. When asked what was the object, somebody suggested tho benevolent fund. This evidently appealed to the meeting, and in a few minutes a sum of £2 2s was contributed in small amounts. At the present rate of income it will be some years before it will be possible to operate on the fund unless the income can be substantially added to. During the year a deserving member fell on evil times, and after his case had been considered by council an appeal was made to individual members for contributions to a special fund. A sum of £232 was realised, which is to be administered by trustees where the member is located. ‘Had the benevolent fund been of sufficient dimensions, this special appeal would have been unnecessary. The monies at present in hand are to be handed . over immediately to tho trustees, viz., president and secretary of the Wholesalers’ and M.T.A. respectively for investment in the meantime. ’ ’

At 1.30 o’clock the conference adjourned until 9 o’clock to-day.

Uniform By-laws Are Wanted by Motorists

SAFETY FIRST, The question of obtaining uniformity in local regulations and by-laws in the Dominion, received consideration by the New Zealand Motor Trade Association Conference in Palmerston North yesterday. It was pointed out that, owing to irregularity in this regard, motorists visiting a town were frequently embarrassed by the "failure to comply with regulations. This was not through any intentions of the driver but was due to the varying by-iaws in individual towns. The matter was fully discussed and Mr. Bauchop (Wellington), the chairman, stressed several aspects of the situation needing attention, it eventu ally being resolved that tho three following resolutions be approved:— “That the conference ro-affirm the principle that municipal by-laws and other reasonable traffic control, having as their objective the public safety, receive the full support of the organisation." “That the Municipal Association be urged to .take immediate steps to provide a maximum degree of uniformity in such things as parking, street notices, signs, etc., to eliminate cmbarassments and penalties to visiting motorists.” “That the conference pledges itself

to assist in every way possible the introduction of such reasonable by-laws."

Some Children Had Never Had a Motor Car Ride

“SUNSHINE DAY." In discussing the methods of the children’s motor outing in Wellington, with a view to extending its scope to other centres, it was mentioned by a delegate from the capital city at yesterday’s motor conference that it had been discovered at one of these gatherings that there were orphans living in homes in Wellington who had never bad a ride in a car. The fixture was a most enjoyable one from all points of view and embraced the aims of the organisation in providing entertainment for those in less fortunate positions.

Other members gave their opinions of the matter and it was decided that it be a responsibility for all local associations to provide an annual outing in future. The middle •of December was suggested as a suitable time for simultaneous fixtures throughout the Dominion.

“Breach of Faith With . Motorists”

IF GOVERNMENT DOES NOT GRANT SUBSIDY.

MOTOR TRADERS CONCERNED,

The intentions of the Government to withdraw the £200,000 subsidy from the Highways Board fund was the subject of considerable discussion at the conference of the New Zealand Motor Trade yesterday and an emphatic protest was entered against such a proposal, it being decided to adopt the suggestion of forwarding the text of the resolution to a meeting which is being specially convened in Wellington to-day by tho Wellington Automobile Club to allow county councils and other interested bodies to object to the Government’s proposal. Tho discussion arose out of tho following remit, submitted to the convention by the To Kuiti Branch, this being unanimously passed by the delegates representing motorists from all parts of the Dominion. “That an emphatic protest he forwarded to the Government against its action in withdrawing the £200,000 subsidy from the Highways Board fund, as it is considered a direct breach of faith with the motorists of New Zealand, inasmuch as it will interfere with the Highways Board giving an expeditious effect to its programme and is also directly opposed to the original promises as made when imposing the petrel tax." An Absolute Injustice."

Speaking to the motion, Mr. Holah (Te Kuiti) said that it was an abso lute injustice to motorists for the Government to attempt tho withdrawal of the subsidy. When the Highways Board had taken over the work of “the Public Works Department the money had ‘ been promised to replace the amount expended on roads and if this were withdrawn, as was proposed, the work of the former body would be seriously hampered. “It is absolutely wrong," concluded the speaker, “and it is a further attempt to penalise the motorist.” Upon tho resolution being adopted, the chairman, Mr. H. Bauchop (Well iogton) announced that the convenor* of the meeting to bo held at the capital city had requested that any protest be forwarded to them and ho suggested that this be done. The Prime Minister would also be receiving a deputation upon the matter to-day. The meeting endorsed this proposal following the reading of a resume of the position. History of Grant. '

“In the agitation prior to the passing of the Main Highway Act, 1922, it had been clearly agreed that there were three parties to the cost of construction txud. maintenance, 1) says a precis of tho position issued in circular form by the North Island Motor Union. These conditions were that the parties should be, firstly, the counties and local bodies, who represented the lands to which access was given by the main roads; secondly, the motor vehicle user for whom improved surfaces and maintenance were required; and thirdly, tho Government, representing society in general, who gained by increased transport facilities the lower freights and charges through improved" road conditions and the influence on national defence, postal services, health and education.

These interests were particularly referred to at the conference convened by the then Minister for Public Works and held at Wellington in 1922, to enable the views of the uirec parties to be given and as a consequence of which the Main Highways Act, 1922, was passed. Tho Act provided that tho revenue fund of the board should include all moneys appropriated by Parliament out of tho consolidated fund for the purposes of main highways, being not less iu any year than the sum of £85,000; tho first such payment to be mado in and for the year commencing on April 1, 1924. Regarding the cost of construction, this would include all moneys appropriated by Parliament out of tho consolidated fund for the purposes of main highways, being not less in any year than the sum of £200,000; the first such payment to be made in and for the year commencing on April 1, 1924. The Position Reviewed. In summing up the position, the circular remarks that if the grant were withheld the work of the board would suffer. Its present allocations (restricted by the amount the Government borrows each year) were insufiicient this year to meet all demands

and many works would have to be held over.

“Next year the position is likely to be much worse, the report continues. ‘ Vl’he reducing revenue fund will be bled white, or works curtailed or subsidies to local bodies reduced. On secondary highways this year it is expected that the expenditure will be doublo that of the previous one. Tho high class paving work programmes on heavy traffic roads, which the board is subsidising at high preferential rates, and which are now incrcasingJy being brought to a head, will bo slowed down. In fact, tho check that will bo given to the ,board’s activities will be a national calamity reflected on the country ratepayer and the road user and the country generally." In indicating something of the result it was pointed out that to December 31, 1929, tho amount borrowed by tho board since 1922 was under £1,000,000. This year if the Government’s attitude was persisted with, it would increase by more than half this sum, £550,000, and the whole of the board’s construction estimates of £1,000,000 and maintenance payments of a similar sum, would be paid or payable by the motorist entirely without any contribution by the State. “Even so, it is not so much the actual amount that is concerned this year (although that is considerable) but tbo sense of injustice and breach of arrangement at tho motorists’ and local bodies’ expense, combined with the certain future curtailment of the board’s activities and the fear that, once tho board’s funds are touched, other encroachments may follow, that has created the strong opinion existing throughout the country at this unjustified attack upon the funds of the Highways Board, on whose activities not oniy the motorists and the locai bodies, but tho general public itself, depends for improved transport facilities, through the existence and maintenance of the present highways. ’’

Royal Commission Would Solve The Transport Problem

VITAL NATIONAL PROBLEM.

“That the Government bo urgently requested to proceed at tho earliest moment to set up a Royal Commission to discuss the whole transport question as a vital national problem," was the text of a resolution confirmed by the delegates- attending the Dominion Motor Trade Conference at present being held in Palmerston North. Speaking to the motion, Mr. Hope Gibbons (Wellington) said that tho time had arrived when the transport question had developed into a vital problem and a solution would have to be found.

Mr. D. F. Smillie (Palmerston North) rose to ask the chairman if ho did not think that the matter was proceeding too quickly. He pointed out that the question had yet to go beforo the Government and it would be time enough to make a suggestion when it 3 deliberations were known.

Mr. Bauchop then explained that this was correct and requested that the meeting go into committee for a period. On resumption, Mr. G. H. Scott (Wellington) declared that a Royal Commission was what the conference required as that would place the matter beyond party policy and allow of thorough investigation.